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DESIGN  I. 

A    SUBURBAN    CO  T  TAG  V. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES; 


OR 

A    SERIES    OF  DESIGNS 

FOR 

RURAL  COTTAGES  AND  COTTAGE  VILLAS, 

AND  THEIR 

GARDENS  AND  GROUNDS. 

ADAPTED  TO 

NORTH  AMERICA. 


By   a.   J.  DOWNING, 

AUTHOR  OF  A  TREATISE  ON  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING,  ETC. 


"I  long  for  the  preservation  of  those  pure,  simple,  holy  tastes,  which  have  led  our  country- 
men, in  ail  ages,  to  delight  in  the  pleasant  fields,  in  the  pleasant  country  houses,  in  the  profound 
peace  of  noble  woods  so  favorable  to  high  and  solemn  musings,  and  in  all  those  healthful  and 
animating  sports  and  pursuits  that  belong  to  such  a  life." — Hoicitt. 


PART  I. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  NUMEROUS  ENGRAVINGS. 


NEW-YORK  AND  LONDON : 

WILEY    AND  PUTNAM. 
1844. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Cougress,  by 
A.  J.  Downing, 
the  Clerk's  otlice  of  the  Southern  District  of  New-York, 
iu  the  year  1812, 


NEW-YOBK: 
"Wiliiam  Oiborn,  Printer, 
88  WUliam-streel. 


WITH    SINCERE  REGARD, 
TO 

BERT  DONALDSON, 

OF  BLITHEWOOD,  ON  THK  HUDSON, 
Arbiter  elegantiarum. 


PREFACE. 


A  HEARTY  desire  to  contribute  something  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  domestic  architecture  and  the  rural  taste 
of  our  country,  has  been  the  motive  which  has  influenced 
me  in  preparing  this  Httle  volume.  With  us,  almost  every 
man  either  builds,  or  looks  forward  to  building,  a  home 
for  himself  at  some  period  of  his  life  ;  it  may  be  only  a  log 
hut,  or  a  most  rustic  cottage,  but  perhaps  also,  a  villa,  or 
a  mansion.  As  yet,  however,  our  houses  are  mostly  either 
of  the  plainest  and  most  meagre  description,  or,  if  of  a  more 
ambitious,  they  are  frequently  of  a  more  objectionable  cha- 
racter— shingle  palaces,  of  very  questionable  convenience, 
and  not  in  the  least  adapted,  by  their  domestic  and  rural 
beauty,  to  harmonize  with  our  lovely  natural  landscapes. 

Now  I  am  desirous  that  every  one  who  lives  in  the 
country,  and  in  a  country  house,  should  be  in  some  degree 
conversant  with  domestic  architecture,  not  only  because  it 
will  be  likely  to  improve  the  comfort  of  his  own  house,  and 
hence  all  the  houses  in  the  country,  but  that  it  will  enlarge 
his  mind,  and  give  him  new  sources  of  enjoyment. 

It  is  not  my  especial  object,  at  this  moment,  to  dwell 
upon  the  superior  convenience  which  may  be  realized  in 
our  houses,  by  a  more  familiar  acquaintance  with  architec- 
ture. The  advantages  of  an  ingeniously  arranged  and 
nicely  adapted  plan,  over  one  carelessly  and  ill-contrived, 
are  so  obvious  to  every  one,  that  they  are  self-evident. 
This  is  the  ground-work  of  domestic  architecture,  the  great 
importance  of  which  is  recognized  by  all  mankind,  and 
some  ingenuity  and  familiarity  with  practical  details  are 

B 


ii 


PREFACE. 


only  necessary  to  give  ps  compact,  convenient  and  com- 
fortable houses,  with  the  same  means  and  in  the  same 
space  as  the  most  awkward  and  unpleasing  forms. 

But  I  am  still  more  anxious  to  inspire  in  the  minds  of 
my  readers  and  countrymen  livelier  perceptions  of  the 
BEAUTIFUL,  in  cvcry  thing  that  relates  to  our  houses  and 
grounds.  I  wish  to  awaken  a  quicker  sense  of  the  grace, 
the  elegance,  or  the  picturesqueness,  of  fine  forms  that  are 
capable  of  being  produced  in  these,  by  Rural  Architec- 
ture and  Landscape  Gardening — a  sense  which  will  not 
only  refine  and  elevate  the  mind,  but  open  to  it  new  and 
infinite  resources  of  delight.  There  are  perhaps  a  few 
upon  whose  souls  nearly  all  emanations  of  beauty  fall  irn- 
pressionless  ;  but  there  are  also  many  who  see  the  Beauti- 
ful, in  nature  and  art,  only  feebly  and  dimly,  either  from  the 
want  of  proper  media  through  which  to  view  her,  or  a  little 
direction  as  to  \^here  she  is  to  be  found.  How  many,  too, 
are  there  who  even  discover  the  Beautiful,  in  a  picture,  or 
a  statue,  who  yet  fail  to  admire  her,  rounding  with  lines 
of  grace,  and  touching  with  shades  of  harmony  all  com- 
mon nature,  and  pervading  silently  all  material  forms  ! 
"  Men,"  say  Goethe,  "  are  so  inclined  to  content  themselves 
with  what  is  commonest,  so  easily  do  the  spirit  and  the 
sense  grow  dead  to  the  impression  of  the  Beautiful  and  the 
Perfect,  that  every  person  should  strive  to  nourish  in  his 
mind  the  faculty  of  feeling  these  things,  by  every  thing  in 
his  power,  for  no  man  can  bear  to  be  wholly  deprived  of 
such  enjoyment;  it  is  only  because  they  are  not  used  to 
taste  of  what  is  excellent,  that  the  generality  of  people 
take  delight  in  silly  and  insipid  things,  provided  they  be 
new.  For  this  reason,  every  day  one  ought  to  see  a  fine 
picture,  read  a  good  poem,  hear  a  little  song,  and  if  it  were 
possible,  to  speak  a  few  reasonable  words." 

It  is  in  this  regard,  that  1  wish  to  inspire  all  persons 
with  a  love  of  beautiful  forms,  and  a  desire  to  assemble 
them  around  their  daily  walks  of  life.    I  wish  them  to  ap" 


PREFACE. 


iii 


predate  how  superior  is  the  charm  of  that  home  where  we 
discover  the  tasteful  cottage  or  villa,  and  the  well  designed 
and  neatly  kept  garden  or  grounds,  full  of  beauty  and  har- 
mony,-—not  the  less  beautiful  and  harmonious  because  sim- 
ple and  limited  ;  and  to  become  aware  that  these  superior 
forms,  and  the  higher  and  more  refined  enjoyment  derived 
from  them,  may  be  had  at  the  same  cost  afid  with  the 
same  labor  as  a  clumsy  dwelling,  and  its  uncouth  and  ill- 
designed  accessories. 

More  than  all,  I  desire  to  see  these  sentiments  cherished 
for  their  pure  moral  tendency.  "  All  beauty  is  an  out- 
ward expression  of  inward  good,"  and  so  closely  are  the 
Beautiful  and  the  True  allied,  that  we  shall  find,  if  we  be- 
come sincere  lovers  of  the  grace,  the  harmony,  and  the 
loveliness,  with  which  rural  homes  and  rural  life  are  capa- 
ble of  being  invested,  that  we  are  silently  opening  our 
hearts  to  an  influence  which  is  higher  and  deeper  than 
the  mere  symbol;  and  that  if  we  thus  worship  in  the  true 
spirit,  we  shall  attain  a  nearer  view  of  the  Great  Master 
whose  words,  in  all  his  material  universe,  are  written  in 
lines  of  Beauty. 

And  how  much  happiness,  how  much  pure  pleasure,^ 
that  strengthens  and  invigorates  our  best  and  holiest  affec- 
tions, is  there  not  experienced,  in  bestowing  upon  our  homes 
something  of  grace  and  loveliness — in  making  the  place 
dearest  to  our  hearts  a  sunny  spot,  where  the  social  sym- 
pathies take  shelter  securely  under  the  shadowy  eaves,  of 
grow  and  entwine  trustfully  with  the  tall  trees  Or  wreathed 
vines  that  cluster  around,  as  if  striving  to  shut  out  what-^ 
ever  of  bitterness  or  strife  may  be  found  in  the  open  high- 
ways of  the  world.  What  an  unfailing  barrier  again'st 
vice,  immorality,  and  bad  habits,  are  those  tastes  which 
lead  us  to  embellish  a  home,  to  which  at  all  times  and  in' 
all  places,  we  turn  with  delight,  as  being  the  object  and 
the  scene  of  our  fondest  cares,  labours,  and  enjoyments  ; 
whose  humble  roof,  whose  shady  porch,  whose  verdant 


iv 


PREFACE. 


lawn  and  smiling  flowers,  all  breathe  forth  to  us,  in  true, 
earnest  tones,  a  domestic  feeling,  that  at  once  purifies  the 
heart,  and  binds  us  more  closely  to  our  fellow  beings. 

In  this  volume,  the  first  yet  published  in  this  country  de- 
voted to  Rural  Architecture,  I  am  conscious  of  offering  but 
a  slight  and  imperfect  contribution  to  this  important  sub- 
ject, which  I  trust  will  be  the  precursor  of  more  varied 
and  complete  works  from  others,  adapted  to  our  peculiar 
wants  and  climate.  The  very  great  interest  now  beginning 
to  manifest  itself  in  rural  improvements  of  every  kind, 
leads  us  to  believe  and  to  hope,  that  at  no  very  distant  day 
our  country  residences  may  rival  the  cottage  homes  of 
England,"  so  universally,  and  so  justly  admired. 

The  relation  between  a  country-house  and  its  "  sur- 
roundings," have  led  me  to  consider,  under  the  term  Re- 
sidences, both  the  architectural  and  the  gardening  designs. 
To  constitute  an  agreeable  whole,  these  should  indeed 
have  a  harmonious  correspondence,  one  with  the  other ; 
and  although  most  of  the  following  designs  have  not 
actually  been  carried  into  execution,  yet  it  is  believed  that 
they  will,  either  entirely  or  in  part,  be  found  adapted  to 
many  cases  of  every  day  occurrence,  or  at  least,  furnish 
hints  for  variations  suitable  for  peculiar  circumstances  and 
situations. 

My  acknowledgments  are  due  to  J.  Notman,  Esq.,  Archi- 
tect, of  Philadelphia,  for  the  architectural  portion  of 
Design  IX  ;  and  to  Alexander  J.  Davis,  Esq.,  Architect,  of 
New-York,  for  that  of  Design  X,  and  for  a  revision  of  some 
of  the  architectural  drawings  and  details. 

A.  J.  D. 

Highland  Gardens,  > 
Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  June,  1842.  5 


CONTENTS. 


ARCHITECTURAL  SUGGESTIONS. 

Leading  principles  of  domestic  architecture,  and  their  importance,  p.  9. 
The  principle  of  utility  or  Fitness,  p.  10.  Value  of  a  convenient  ar- 
rangement, p.  10.  Different  wants  in  a  cottage,  p.  12.  Labour  saving 
fixtures,  p.  13.  The  mode  of  construction,  and  materials  most  suitable, 
p.  16.  Fitness  in  furniture,  p.  19.  The  principle  of  Propriety,  or  Ex- 
pression of  Purpose,  p.  19.  Features  most  characteristic  of  this  expres- 
sion, p.  20.  The  colour  of  the  exterior  of  cottages,  p.  22.  Architecture 
as  an  art  of  taste  and  imagination,  p.  25.  Beauty  of  form.  The  Principle 
of  Unity,  p.  26.  Of  Uniformity  and  Symmetry,  p.  27.  Of  Harmony  and 
Variety,  p.  29.  Different  styles  in  architecture,  p.  29.  Relation  of  do- 
mestic architecture,  p.  30.  The  most  suitable  styles  for  this  country, 
p.  32.    The  sentiment  of  architecture,  p.  33. 

DESIGN  L 

A  SUBURBAN  COTTAGE. 

Description  of  the  plan  of  the  house,  and  its  internal  arrangements, 
p.  36.  Remarks  on  its  external  effect,  p.  38.  Details  of  construction, 
p.  39.  Chimneys  should  be  placed  in  the  inner  walls,  p.  40.  Estimate, 
p.  40.  Laying  out  the  garden,  p.  41.  List  of  creepers  for  a  trellis,  p. 
42.  Choice  fruits  for  the  kitchen  garden,  p.  43.  Training  them  to  a 
trellis,  p.  44.  The  ornamental  portion,  p.  45.  Sweet  scented  shrubs,  to 
be  planted  near  the  windows,  p.  46,  Border  flowers,  p.  48.  Care  ne- 
cessary to  keep  the  whole  in  order,  p.  49. 

DESIGN  n. 

A  COTTAGE  IN  THE  ENGLISH,  OR  RURAL  GOTHIC  STYLE. 

Object  in  view  in  arranging  the  interior,  p.  50.  Explanation  of  the 
plans,  p.  51.  Beauty  of  this  style  of  cottage,  p.  53.  Introduction  of  the 
veranda,  p.  53.  The  chimney-tops,  p.  54.  Construction  and  details, 
p.  55.  Estimate,  p.  56.  Laying  out  the  gal-den,  p.  56.  Trees  to  be 
introduced  ;  disposing  the  kitchen  garden,  p.  59. 


Vi 


Contents. 


DESIGN  III. 

A  COTTAGE  IN  THE  POINTED,  OR  TUDOR  STYLE. 

The  situation,  p.  61.  Size  of  this  cottage  suited  to  the  generality  of 
wants  in  this  country,  p.  62.  Arrangement  of  the  principal  floor,  p.  62. 
Of  the  second  floor,  p.  66.  Of  the  basement,  p.  67.  Degree  of  decora- 
tion to  be  employed.  The  proper  materials,  p.  69.  Introduction  of 
shutters,  p.  69.  Finish  of  the  interior,  p.  70.  Details  of  the  exterior, 
p.  71.  The  dumb  waiter  described,  p.  73.  Estimate,  p.  74.  Arrange- 
ment of  the  grounds,  p.  74.  Sunk  fence,  or  ha-haj  p.  77.  Trees  most 
in  keeping  with  the  place,  p.  77.  Preparation  of  the  soil  for  planting 
trees,  p.  78.  Arrangement  of  trees  in  the  natural  style  of  landscape 
gardening,  and  what  constitutes  the  art,  p.  80.  Flower  beds,  p.  80. 
List  of  the  finest  hardy  ornamental  trees  of  foreign  and  native  growth, 
suitable  for  planting  in  groups  and  masses,  p.  81.  List  of  42  choice 
fruit  trees,  for  the  orchard  of  this  design,  p.  87. 

DESIGN  IV. 

AN  ORNAMENTAL  FARM-HOUSE. 

Aim  in:  this  design,  p.  88.  Reasons  why  a  farmer's  house  should  be 
tasteful,  p.  89.  Description  of  the  first  floor  plan,  p.  90.  Of  the  second 
floor,  p.  91.  Why  the  Rural  Gothic  style  is  adopted,  p.  91.  The  mate- 
rial considered,  p.  92.  Details  of  construction  and  the  estimate,  p.  93. 
The  Ferrae  Ornee,  or  ornamental  portion  of  the  farm,  p.  94.  Trees  to 
be  employed  for  ornament,  p.  96.  The  introduction  of  hedges,  and  the 
best  plants  for  this  purpose,  p.  97.  Rendering  fences  ornamental  by 
creepers,  p.  98.  Harmonising  the  adjacent  portions  of  the  farm ;  list  of 
apples  for  the  orchard,  p.  98. 

DESIGN  V. 

A  COTTAGE  VILLA  IN  THE  BRACKETTED  MODfi. 

Bold  character  of  this  mode  of  building  ;  its  adaptation  to  this  country, 
and  to  the  souths  p.  99.  The  plan  of  the  principal  floor,  p.  100.  Supe- 
rior effect  of  one  large  apartment  for  the  drawing-room,  p.  101.  The 
second  floor  and  the  basement  arrangements,  p.  102.  Variation  of  this 
design  as  constructed  in  wood,  p.  103.  Details ;  the  chimney  and 
porch,  p.  105  ;  the  brackets  and  siding,  p.  106.  Construction  of  the 
water-closet,  p.  107.  Estimate,  p.  108.  Laying  out  the  ground,  p.  108. 
The  ornamental  portions,  the  kitchen  and  fruit  gardens,  p.  111.  Hints 


CONTENTS. 


vii 


for  the  detached  green-house,  p.  112.  Treatment  of  the  hill  in  the  rear, 
p.  112.  Preparation  and  treatment  necessary  to  produce  a  fine  lawn, 
p.  113.  The  flower-beds  cut  in  the  turf,  and  reasons  why  this  is  a  su^ 
perior  method  of  arranging  them,  p.  114.  List  of  beautiful  Verbenas 
and  ever-blooming  Roses,  for  these  beds,  p.  115.  Treatment  of  the  long 
flo^yer  borders,  p.  116.  List  of  perennial  border  flowers,  arranged  ac- 
cording to  their  height,  and  period  of  blooming,  p.  117. 

DESIGN  VI. 

AN  IRREGULAR  yiLLA  IN  THE  ITALIAN  STYLE,  BRACKETTED, 

Beauty  of  irregularity  in  buildings,  and  reasons  why  an  irregular 
design  will  be  disliked  by  some,  and  greatly  preferred  by  others,  p.  124. 
Elegant  domestic  features  of  the  Italian  style,  p.  125.  The  accommo- 
dation of  the  principal  floor  of  this  design,  p.  125.  Of  the  chamber  floor, 
p.  126.  Trees  in  keeping  with  the  style,  p.  127.  Construction,  p.  127. 
Estimate,  p.  128.  Laying  out  the  grounds,  p.  128.  Natural  character 
of  the  situation,  and  the  way  in  which  it  should  be  treated,  p.  129. 
Advantages  of  walks  made  in  natural  woods,  p.  130.  The  importance 
of  studying  the  natural  expression  of  the  place,  and  of  making  our  im- 
provements harmonize  with  it,  p.  131.  The  orchard  and  fruit  garden, 
p.  132.  List  of  the  finest  varieties  of  fruit,  p.  133.  Hints  for  their 
cultivation,  and  for  securing  them  against  insects,  p.  136. 

DESIGN  yiL 

AN  IRREGULAR  COTTAGE  IN  THE  OLD  ENGLISH  STYLE. 

Character  of  the  old  English  cottage,  and  reasons  why  it  should  only 
be  built  in  appropriate  situations,  p.  137.  Domestic  expression,  the 
characteristic  of  this  style,  p.  138.  Examination  of  the  interior,  p.  138. 
Fitting  up  and  furnishing,  p.  189,  Plan  of  the  chamber  story,  p.  140. 
Construction  and  details,  p.  142.  Care  necessary  in  executing  a  design 
of  this  kind,  p.  143.  Estimate,  p.  144.  Laying  out  the  grounds,  p.  144. 
Mode  of  thinning  out  a  wooded  surface,  p.  146.  Management  of  the 
walks,  p.  147.  An  irregular  flower  garden,  p.  148.  A  cottage  in  the 
same  style,  suitable  as  a  gate  lodge  to  this  residence^  or  for  a  small  family, 
p.  149.    Beauty  of  vines  and  climbing  plants  on  cottages,  p.  150. 

DESIGN  VIII. 

A  VILLA  IN  THE  ITALIAN  STYLE. 

Grecian  and  Italian  architecture  compared ;  characteristic  quality  of 
the  latter,  p.  151.    Situation  suitable  for  this  villa.   The  terrace  ;  its 


viii 


CONTENTS. 


beauty  and  utility  ;  union  between  the  house  and  grounds,  p.  153 ;  exte- 
rior features,  p.  153  ;  of  the  second  floor,  p.  154.  Comparative  cost,  and 
the  facility  of  making  additions  to  buildings  in  the  Italian  style,  p.  155. 
Construction  and  details,  p.  156.  Estimate,  p.  157.  Arrangement  of 
the  grounds,  p.  157.  The  architectural  flower  garden  described,  p.  185. 
Elegant  effect  of  vases,  etc.,  in  connexion  with  garden  scenery,  p.  160. 
Pedestals  for  vases,  p.  161.  Details  of  the  garden ;  construction  and 
supply  of  the  fountain,  p.  162. 

DESIGN  IX. 

A  COTTAGE  IN  THE  ITALIAN  OR  TUSCAN  STYLE. 

Description  of  this  cottage  ;  the  principal  floor,  p.  164.  The  second 
floor,  and  basement  accommodation,  p.  165.  Arrangement  of  the  ground, 
with  a  view  to  combine  utility  and  beauty,  p.  166.  The  orchard  and 
kitchen  garden,  p.  167.    Attached  conservatory,  p.  170. 

DESIGN  X. 

A  VILLA  IN  THE  GOTHIC,  OR  POINTED  STYLE. 

Character  of  the  exterior,  p.  171.  Complete  interior  arrangement, 
p.  172.  The  dining,  drawing-room  and  library,  and  other  apartments 
of  the  principal  floor,  p.  172.  The  second  floor  and  basement  accommo- 
dation, p.  173.  Estimate,  p.  174.  Arrangement  of  the  grounds;  treat- 
ment of  the  approach,  p.  175.  Care  and  judgment  necessary  in  opening 
a  wooded  surface,  p.  177. 

ADDENDA. 

Cements  for  the  exterior  of  buildings,  p.  179.  Building  contracts, 
p.  182.   Employment  of  architects  and  professional  men,  p.  165. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


ARCHITECTURAL  SUGGESTIONS. 

"  True  Taste  is  an  excellent  economist.  She  confines  her  choice  to  few  objects, 
and  delights  to  produce  gi-eat  effects  by  small  means  ;  while  False  Taste  is  forever 
sighing  after  the  new  and  rare ;  and  reminds  us,  in  her  works,  of  the  scholar  of 
Appelles,  who,  not  being  able  to  paint  his  Helen  beautiful,  determined  to  make  her 
fine." 

There  are  certain  leading  principles  connected  with 
architecture,  which  earnestly  demand  our  attention  on  the 
very  threshold  of  the  subject.  In  an  indefinite  manner 
they  are,  perhaps,  acknowledged  by  all  intelligent  minds, 
but  they  are  only  distinctly  and  clearly  understood  by 
those,  who,  having  analyzed  the  expressions  or  characters 
inherent  in  various  forms  and  modes  of  building,  have 
traced  the  impressions  derived,  whether  of  utility  or  beauty, 
to  their  proper  origin.  When  the  mind  has  arrived  at  this 
point,  the  satisfaction  it  enjoys  in  an  admirable  work,  is 
proportionably  greater ;  in  the  same  manner  (though  in 
less  degree)  as  the  '  devout  astronomer'  enjoys,  with  a  far 
more  intelligent  and  fervent  rapture,  his  starry  gaze,  than 
the  ignorant  eye  that  sees  only  a  myriad  of  lights  hung 
above  to  dispel  the  gloom  of  midnight. 

As  the  first  object  of  a  dwelhng  is  to  afford  a  shelter  to 

1 


10 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


man,  the  first  principle  belonging  to  architecture  grows 
out  of  this  primary  necessity,  and  it  is  called  the  principle 
of  Fitness  or  usefulness.  After  this,  man  naturally  desires 
to  give  some  distinctive  character  to  his  own  habitation,  to 
mark  its  superiority  to  those  devoted  to  animals.  This 
gives  rise  to  the  principle  of  Expression  of  Purpose. 
Finally,  the  love  of  the  beautiful,  inherent  in  all  finer  natures, 
and  its  exhibition  in  certain  acknowledged  forms,  has 
created  the  principle  of  the  expression  of  Style,  In  other 
words,  all  these  principles  may  be  regarded  as  sources  of 
beauty  in  domestic  architecture  ;  Fitness  being  the  beauty 
of  utility  ;  Expression  of  purpose,  the  beauty  of  propriety  ; 
and  Expression  of  Style,  the  beauty  of  form  and  sentiment^ 
which  is  the  highest  in  the  scale.  We  shall  say  a  few 
words  in  illustration  of  our  ideas  on  each  particular 
division. 

Fitness,  or  use,  is  the  first  principle  to  be  considered  in 
all  buildings.  Those  indeed  who  care  little  for  any  other 
character  in  a  dwelhng,  generally  pride  themselves  upon 
the  amount  of  convenience  they  have  been  able  to  realize 
in  it ;  and  nothing  could  be  in  worse  taste  than  to  embellish 
or  decorate  a  dwelling-house  which  is  wanting  in  comfort, 
as  the  beautiful  is  never  satisfactory  when  not  allied  to 
the  true. 

In  a  dwelling-house,  our  every  day  comfort  is  so  en- 
tirely dependant  on  a  convenient  arrangement  of  the  rooms, 
or  plan  of  the  interior,  that  this  is  universally  acknow- 
ledged to  be  the  most  important  consideration.  To  have 
the  principal  rooms  or  apartments  situated  on  the  most  fa- 
vourable side  of  the  house  with  regard  to  aspect,  in  order 
that  they  may  be  light,  warm,  or  airy,  and,  in  respect  to 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


11 


view,  that  they  may  command  the  finest  prospects,  are 
desiderata  in  every  kind  of  dwelling.  In  all  climates  the 
stormy  quarters  are  the  worst  aspects,  and  the  fair  weather 
quarters  the  best  ones.  Thus,  in  the  middle  states,  a 
south-west  aspect  (all  other  things  being  equal)  is  the  best 
for  the  finer  rooms,  and  a  north-east  the  most  disagreeable. 
In  hot  climates,  a  north  exposure  may  be  agreeable  on 
account  of  its  coolness,  but  in  all  temperate  latitudes,  a 
southern  one  is  more  desirable  for  the  entire  year. 

In  arranging  the  different  apartments  of  a  cottage  or 
villa,  great  variations  will  naturally  arise  out  of  the  peculiar 
circumstances,  mode  of  living,  or  individual  wants  of  the 
family  by  whom  it  is  to  be  inhabited.  Thus,  a  small 
family  living  a  secluded  life,  or  one  composed  of  infirm 
persons,  would  prefer  to  have  their  sleeping  apartments, 
their  kitchen,  and  other  conveniences,  on  the  same  floor 
with  the  parlour  or  living  room,  even  at  the  expense  of  one 
or  two  handsome  rooms,  for  the  sake  of  the  greater  con- 
venience in  conducting  domestic  affairs,  and  the  greater 
ease  and  comfort  thereby  realized.  On  the  other  hand,  a 
family  fond  of  social  intercourse,  and  accustomed  to  en- 
^tertain,  would  greatly  prefer,  in  a  cottage  or  villa  of  mo- 
derate size,  to  have  several  handsome  apartments,  as  a 
drawing-room,  library,  dining-room,  etc.,  occupying  almost 
exclusively  the  principal  floor,  placing  the  kitchen  and  its 
offices  in  the  basement,  and  the  bedrooms  in  the  second 
story.  This  arrangement  would  perhaps  be  less  convenient 
in  a  few  respects  for  the  family,  but  it  would  be  more 
elegant  and  more  satisfactory  for  the  kind  of  residence  in- 
tended— each  department  of  the  house  being  complete  in 
itself,  and  intruding  itself  but  little  on  the  attention  of  the 


12 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


family  or  guests  when  not  required  to  be  visible,  which  is 
the  ideal  of  domestic  accommodation.  A  kitchen  on  the 
first  floor  has  the  advantage  of  being  more  accessible,  and 
more  completely  under  the  surveillance  of  the  mistress  of  the 
house,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  open  to  the  objection  of 
being  occasionally  offensive  in  the  matter  of  sound,  sight, 
and  smells  ;  unless,  in  the  case  of  large  houses,  where 
these  may  be  excluded  by  long  passages  and  double  doors. 
Some  families  have  a  literary  taste,  and  to  them  a  libra- 
ry would  be  an  indispensable  apartment,  while  others, 
caring  less  for  books,  would  in  the  same  space  prefer  a 
bedroom.  We  mention  these  circumstances  to  show  in 
what  a  relative  sense  the  term  fitness,  as  regards  accom- 
modation, must  be  used,  and  how  many  peculiar  circum- 
stances must  be  considered  before  we  can  pronounce  de- 
cidedly upon  the  merits  or  demerits  of  a  plan.  What 
may  be  entirely  fit  and  convenient  for  one,  would  be  con- 
sidered quite  unsuitable  for  another.  Hence  the  great 
difficulty  of  arranging  plans  exactly  to  suit  to  all  wants. 
And  hence  the  importance  to  all  persons,  and  especially 
ladies,  who  understand  best  the  principle  of  convenience, 
of  acquiring  some  architectural  knowledge.  There 
are  doubtless  many  desiring  to  build  a  cottage,  who 
will  find  no  one  of  the  plans  hereafter  submitted  pre- 
cisely what  they  want,  and  this  will  be  found  to  arise 
mainly  from  their  having  certain  peculiar  wants  growing 
out  of  their  habits,  or  position,  for  which  no  artist,  not 
familiar  with  these,  could  possibly  provide. 

There  are  some  rules  of  fitness  of  nearly  universal  ap- 
plication. Thus  a  dining-room  should  obviously  have  con- 
nected with  it,  either  a  pantry  or  a  large  closet,  or  both  ; 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


13 


and  it  should  be  so  placed  as  to  afford  easy  ingress  and 
egress  to,  and  from  the  kitchen.  The  drawing-room, 
parlour,  or  finest  apartment,  should  look  out  on  the  most 
beautiful  view,  either  over  a  distant  prospect,  if  there  be 
such,  or,  if  not,  upon  the  fine  home  landscape  of  trees,  lawn, 
or  flower-garden.  A  library  may  occupy  a  more  secluded 
position,  and  requires  less  attention  to  outward  circum- 
stances as  the  materiel  from  whence  it  dispenses  enjoy- 
ment is  within  itself.  Again,  there  are  other  minor  points 
more  generally  understood,  which  may  be  considered 
under  this  principle,  and  to  which  we  need  scarcely  allude. 
Among  these  are  the  construction  of  proper  drains  to  the 
kitchen  and  basement,  the  introduction  of  water  pipes, 
cisterns,  etc.  A  bathing  room  requires  little  space,  and 
may  be  easily  constructed  in  any  cottage,  and  its  great  im- 
portance to  health  renders  it  a  most  desirable  feature  in 
all  our  houses.  No  dwelling  can  be  considered  complete 
which  has  not  a  water-closet  under  its  roof,  though  the 
expense  may  yet  for  some  time  prevent  their  general  intro- 
duction in  small  cottages. 

In  a  country  like  ours,  where  the  population  is  compara- 
tively sparse,  civil  rights  equal,  and  wages  high,  good 
servants  or  domestics  are  comparatively  rare,  and  not 
likely  to  retain  their  places  for  a  long  time.  The  maximum 
of  comfort,  therefore,  is  found  to  consist  in  employing  the 
smallest  number  of  servants  actually  necessary.  This 
may  be  greatly  facilitated  by  having  all  the  apartments 
conveniently  arranged  with  reference  to  their  various  uses, 
and  still  further  by  introducing  certain  kinds  of  domestic 
labour-saving  apparatus  to  lessen  the  amount  of  service  re- 
quired, or  to  render  its  performance  easy.    Among  those 


14 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


which  we  would,  from  experience,  especially  recommend 
for  cottages,  are  the  rising  cupboard  or  dumb  waiter,  the 
speaking  tube,  and  the  rotary  pump. 

The  rising  cupboard  is  only  required  in  the  case  of  a 
basement  kitchen,  and  in  this  instance,  it  will  be  found  to 
render  the  labour  of  carrying  the  dinner  to  and  from  the 
kitchen,  much  easier  than  that  experienced  in  bringing  it 
from  a  kitchen  on  the  same  floor,  with  less  risk  of  broken 
china  or  dishes.  The  unsightly  appearance  of  a  cupboard 
rising  through  the  floor  in  a  corner  of  the  dining-room,  is 
obviated  by  having  it  enclosed  by  a  fixed  case,  like  a  small 
side-board,  and  its  construction  we  shall  show  hereafter. 

Speaking  tubes  are  merely  common  tin  tubes  one  and  a 
half  inches  in  diameter,  terminated  by  mouth  pieces,  one 
of  which  is  in  the  kitchen,  the  other  in  the  desired  apart- 
ment. They  will  usually  only  be  required  in  two  rooms, 
viz.,  the  dining-room  and  the  family  bedroom,  and  in 
constructing  the  house  they  may  be  introduced  and  led 
through  the  partitions  at  a  very  trifling  cost.  They  save 
much  time  and  labour,  as  by  their  aid  we  may  be  able  to 
communicate  our  wants  in  a  whisper  from  the  chamber 
floor  to  the  kitchen,  and  have  them  complied  with  more 
speedily  than  w^e  should  be  able,  by  the  ordinary  use  of 
the  bell  onh%  to  bring  the  servant  to  our  room  to  learn  our 
wishes. 

The  rotary  pump  may  be  considered  as  supplying  the 
place  in  a  cottage  of  the  extensive  arrangement  of  water 
pipes  introduced  in  the  best  mansions  for  supplying  the 
upper  or  chamber  story  with  water.  A  rotary  pump, 
placed  in  some  convenient  position  in  the  hall  of  the 
chamber  floor  of  a  cottage,  and  communicating  by  a  leaden 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


15 


pipe  with  a  cistern  outside,  may  be  said  to  place  an  abun- 
dant supply  of  water  within  a  few  steps  of  every  bedroom 
in  that  story.  This,  it  is  evident,  will  save  much  labour  in 
carrying  water  daily,  to  say  nothing  of  the  comfort  of 
having  a  fresh  supply  within  reach  at  any  moment.  The 
introduction  of  a  complete  set  of  water  pipes  in  a  house  is 
expensive,  and  to  keep  them  in  repair  is  a  considerable 
additional  tax,  but  the  comparative  cheapness  and  effi- 
ciency of  the  rotary  pump,  (which  is  the  neatest  and  most 
complete  apparatus,)  render  it,  or  something  of  this  same 
description,  an  almost  indispensable  convenience  in  a  cot- 
tage of  more  than  one  story. 

The  universally  acknowledged  utiUty  of  closets,  renders 
it  unneceseary  for  us  to  say  any  thing  to  direct  attention  to 
them  under  this  head.  In  the  principal  story,  a  pantry  or 
closets  are  a  necessary  accompaniment  to  the  dining  or 
living  room,  but  are  scarcely  required  in  connexion  with 
any  of  the  other  apartments.  Bedrooms  always  require 
at  least  one  closet  to  each,  and  more  will  be  found  conve- 
nient. One,  or  sometimes  two,  may  always  be  provided, 
in  a  chamber  having  a  fire-place,  by  enclosing  the  space 
on  one  side  of  the  chimney  breast,  and  in  all  cottage  villas, 
or  villas  of  good  size,  one  or  two  bedrooms  should  be 
provided  with  dressing-rooms  attached,  which  will  be 
found  to  add  greatly  to  the  real  comfort  of  the  apartment. 
Some  persons,  however,  have  such  a  passion  for  closets, 
that  they  not  unfrequently  destroy  all  the  merit  of  a 
plan,  by  cutting  up  the  interior  so  as  to  afford  them  in 
abundance.  A  plan  of  very  moderate  size  will  perhaps 
only  afford  a  few  rooms  of  good  size  and  proportion,  which 
would  be  injured  or  destroyed  by  cutting  off  many  closets. 


16 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


It  is  far  better  to  substitute  wardrobes,  or  moveable  closets, 
than  thus  to  sacrifice  all  space,  and  elegance  of  arrange- 
ment, to  convenience. 

The  mode  of  construction,  and  the  materials  employed, 
are  also  comprised  under  the  head  of  fitness.  In  this 
country,  from  the  great  abundance  and  cheapness  of  wood, 
it  has,  until  within  a  few  years,  been  almost  the  only  mate- 
rial employed  in  constructing  country  houses  ;  but  as 
timber  has  grown  scarcer  in  the  forest,  it  has  become 
dearer,  until,  in  many  parts  of  the  Atlantic  states,  stone,  or 
brick,  is  equally  economical.  Wood  is  acknowledged  by 
all  architects  to  be  the  worst  material  for  building,  and 
should  never  be  employed  when  it  is  in  the  power  of  the 
builder  to  use  any  other.  Its  want  of  durability,  the  ex- 
pense of  painting  it  and  keeping  it  in  repair,  and  its  frailness 
and  liability  to  decay  by  the  action  of  the  weather,  are  all 
very  serious  objections  to  it  as  a  material  for  dwelling- 
houses.  A  cottage  of  wood  is,  from  the  thinness  of  the 
exterior,  necessarily  warmer  in  summer,  and  colder  in 
winter,  than  one  built  of  more  solid  materials.  Filling-in 
with  brick  decreases  this  objection,  but  does  not  entirely 
remove  it.  In  point  of  taste,  a  house  built  of  wood  strikes 
us  the  least  agreeably,  as  our  pleasure  in  beholding  a 
beautiful  form  is  marred  by  the  idea  of  the  frailness  of  the 
material  composing  that  form.  We  are  aware  that  the  al- 
most universal  prevalence  of  wooden  country  houses  in 
the  United  States  has  weakened  this  impression,  but  the 
strength  with  which  it  strikes  an  European,  accustomed  to 
solidity  and  permanence  in  a  dwelling,  is  the  best  proof  of 
the  truth  of  our  remark.  And  even  in  this  country,  the 
change  of  feeling  which  is  daily  taking  place  on  this  sub- 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


17 


ject,  shows  very  plainly  in  how  little  estimation  wood  will 
be  held  as  a  building  material,  compared  with  brick  or 
stone,  by  the  next  generation. 

Brick  is  the  next  best  material  to  wood,  and  is  every 
day  coming  into  more  general  use.  The  walls  formed  of 
it,  if  well  constructed,  have  a  solidity  and  permanence  ap- 
propriate for  a  dwelling,  and  requiring  little  cost  to  keep 
them  in  good  repair.  The  offensive  hue  of  red  brick  walls 
in  the  country,  is  easily  removed  by  colouring  them  any 
agreeable  tint,  which  will  also  render  them  dryer  and  more 
permanent.  Brick-and-stucco  (that  is,  a  wall  built  of  rough 
brick  and  coated  exteriorly  with  a  cement)  is,  when  well 
executed,  one  of  the  best  materials  for  cottages  or  villas. 
It  is  much  warmer  and  dryer  than  wood  or  even  stone, 
and  is  equal  to  the  latter  in  external  effect,  when  marked 
off  and  colored  to  resemble  it.  We  have  no  doubt  that 
in  a  short  time  it  will  have  a  very  general  preference  in 
most  sections  of  the  country.* 

Stone  is  generally  conceded  to  be  superior,  on  the  whole, 
to  any  other  material  for  building.  This  is  owing  to  its 
great  durability  and  solidity,  both  in  expression  and  in 
reality ;  and  to  its  requiring  no  trouble  to  keep  it  in  repair, 
as  it  suffers  little  or  no  injury  from  the  action  of  the  ele- 
ments. 

When  houses  are  built  of  brick,  or  stone,  the  interior 
plastering  should  never  be  put  directly  upon  the  inner 

*  The  common  hydraulic  cements  of  New- York  are  unfit  for  plastering  the  exterior 
of  houses,  and  many  persons  who  have  only  seen  these  employed  (mixed  perhaps 
with  dirty,  instead  of  sharp,  clean  sand)  suppose  that  ali.cements  are  equally  liable 
to  crumble  by  exposure  to  damp  and  frost.  The  cement  (or  hydraulic  limes)  of  Con- 
necticut and  Permsylvania  are  greatly  superior  for  stucco,  or  external  plaster,  becom- 
ing, when  well  applied,  nearly  as  firm  and  durable  as  stone. 

2 


18 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


face  of  the  wall,  as  is  sometimes  done  by  careless  or  igno- 
rant mechanics  :  but  the  lathing,  upon  which  it  is  formed, 
should  always  be  separated  from  the  solid  wall  by  what  is 
technically  called  "  furring-off,"  which  leaves  a  space  of 
two  or  more  inches  between  the  solid  wall,  and  that  of 
plaster.  This  vacuity  is,  of  course,  occupied  by  air,  which 
is  a  better  non-conductor  than  any  wall,  prevents  effec- 
tually the  penetration  of  all  dampness,  and  renders  the  wall 
warmer  than  would  three  times  the  same  thickness  of  solid 
material. 

When  we  are  necessarily  restricted  to  the  employment 
of  a  certain  material,  both  fitness  and  good  taste  require 
that  there  should  be  a  correspondence  between  the  material 
used  and  the  style  adopted  for  the  building.  Heavy  and 
massive  architecture,  a  temple,  a  castle,  or  a  mansion, 
should  be  built  of  stone  only,  or  some  solid  enduring  sub- 
stance, but  cottages  in  some  light  and  fanciful  styles  may 
with'more  propriety  be  erected  in  wood,  that  material  be- 
ing in  harmony  with  the  expression  of  the  form  and  out- 
lines. There  cannot  well  be  a  greater  violation  of  correct 
taste,  than  to  build  a  Gothic  castellated  villa  with  thin 
wooden  boards.  It  is  a  species  of  counterfeit  coin  which 
will  never  pass  current  with  cultivated  minds.  De  Tocque- 
ville,  in  his  remarks  on  the  spirit  in  which  the  Americans 
cultivate  the  art,  says,  "  when  I  arrived  for  the  first  time 
at  New- York,  by  that  part  of  the  Atlantic  ocean  which 
is  called  the  Narrows,  I  was  surprised  to  perceive  along 
the  shore,  at  some  distance  from  the  city,  a  considerable 
number  of  palaces  of  white  marble,  several  of  which  were 
built  after  the  models  of  ancient  architecture."^'  His  sur- 
prise was  still  greater,  however,  when  he  went  the  next 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES.  19 

day  to  inspect  the  temple  that  had  particularly  attracted 
his  notice,  to  find  that  its  imposing  portico  was  supported 
by  huge  columns  of  jpainted  wood  ! 

Something  might  be  said  on  the  subject  of  fitness,  with 
regard  to  the  furniture  and  interior  decoration  of  our 
dwelling  houses.  There  is  a  great  charm  about  a  country 
house  fitted  up  or  furnished  simply,  appropriately,  and 
comfortably.  A  profusion  of  mirrors,  of  gilding,  or  of 
chairs  or  sofas  too  magnificent  except  for  show,  strikes  us 
disagreeably  amid  the  freshness,  the  silence,  and  simpli- 
city of  nature,  which  quietly  looks  us  in  the  face  at  every 
window  of  a  house  in  the  country. 

The  expression  of  purpose  in  architecture  is  conveyed  by 
features  in  a  building,  or  by  its  whole  appearance,  sug- 
gesting the  end  in  view,  or  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  in- 
tended. A  church,  for  example,  is  easily  known  by  its  spire, 
or  a  barn  by  its  plain  large  doors  and  the  absence  of  chim- 
neys, and  the  reason  acknowledges  a  satisfaction  in  find- 
ing them  to  be  what  they  appear,  or,  in  other  words,  with 
the  truthfulness  of  their  expression.  Whatever,  therefore, 
tends  to  heighten  expression  of  purpose,  must  grow  out  of 
some  quality  which  connects  itself  in  the  mind  with  the 
use  for  which  it  is  designed,  and  a  genuine  mode  of  increa- 
sing our  admiration  of  any  building,  is  to  render  it  expres- 
sive of  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  built. 

Although,  at  first  thought,  it  would  appear  that  persons 
would  be  little  likely  to  fall  into  error  in  violating  the 
truthfulness  of  a  building,  yet  examples  do  not  unfrequently 
occur.  Some  of  our  dwelling-houses  are  so  meagre  and 
comfortless  in  their  exteriors,  that  one  might  be  fairly  par- 
doned for  supposing  them  barns,  and,  on  the  other  hand, 


20 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


we  have  seen  stables  so  decorated  with  green  shutters  and 
pilasters,  that  they  have  actually  been  mistaken  for  dwell- 
ing-houses. A  blind  passion  for  a  particular  style  of  build- 
ing may  also  tend  to  destroy  expression  of  purpose.  It 
would  certainly  be  difficult  for  a  stranger  in  some  of  our 
towns,  where  the  taste  for  Grecian  temples  prevails,  to 
distinguish  with  accuracy  between  a  church,  a  bank,  and 
a  hall  of  justice. 

Not  only  should  the  whole  house  have  a  general  charac- 
ter denoting  the  end  in  view,  but  every  portion  of  it  should 
be  made,  as  far  as  possible,  to  convey  the  same  impres- 
sion. The  various  useful  features  entering  into  its  com- 
position, should  all  be  expressive  of  the  end  for  which 
they  are  intended,  and  should  appear  to  answer  their  pur- 
pose. Thus  large  windows  indicate  spacious  and  well 
ventilated  apartments,  and  although  propriety  requires  the 
windows  of  the  principal  rooms  to  be  made  larger  than 
those  of  the  chamber  story,  yet  the  latter  should  not  be 
shorn  of  their  due  proportions  so  as  to  be  expressive  of  im- 
perfect accommodation.  One  of  the  most  common  errors, 
which  of  late  has  crept  into  our  suburban  builders'  heads, 
is  the  introduction  of  short  attic  windows  into  the  second 
or  third  story  of  their  houses.  However  satisfactory  such 
dwellings  may  otherwise  be,  the  expression  of  low  and 
confined  chambers,  conveyed  by  these  cramped  windows, 
destroys  all  pleasure  in  contemplating  their  exteriors. 

The  prominent  features  conveying  expression  of  purpose 
in  dwelling-houses  are,  the  chimneys,  the  windows,  and  the 
porch,  veranda,  or  piazza  ;  and  for  this  reason,  whenever 
it  is  desired  to  raise  the  character  of  a  cottage  or  villa 
above  mediocrity,  attention  should  first  be  bestowed  on 
these  portions  of  the  building. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


21 


The  chimney  tops,  in  all  countries  where  fires  are  used, 
are  decidedly  expressive  of  purpose,  as  they  are  associated 
with  all  our  ideas  of  warmth,  the  cheerful  fire-side,  and 
the  social  winter  circle.    The  learned  Bishop  Hall  says, 

"  Look  to  the  tower'd  chimnies,  which  should  be 
The  wind-pipes  of  good  hospitalitie." 

"  In  every  human  habitation,"  says  Loudon,  "  these  chim- 
ney tops  ought  to  be  conspicuous  objects,  because  they  are 
its  essentj^l  characteristics.  They  distinguish  apartments 
destined  for  human  beings  from  those  designed  for  lodging 
cattle.  They  also  distinguish  a  dwelhng-house  from  a 
manufactory  or  workshop,  by  their  size,  number,  form,  or 
disposition."  As  chimney  tops  are  thus  so  essential  a  part 
of  dwelling-houses,  we  should  endeavor  to  render  them 
pleasing  objects  and  increase  their  importance  by  making 
them  ornamental.  The  clumsy  mass  of  bricks  should  be 
enlivened  and  rendered  elegant  by  varying  its  form,  orna- 
menting its  sides,  and  summit,  or  separating  the  whole  into 
distinct  flues,  forming  a  cluster,  in  modes  of  which  there 
are  a  multitude  of  suitable  examples  in  the  various  styles 
of  architecture.  The  chimney  tops  generally  occupy  the 
highest  portions  of  the  roof  breaking  against  the  sky  boldly, 
and,  if  enriched,  will  not  only  increase  the  expression  of 
purpose,  but  add  also  the  picturesque  beauty  of  the  com- 
position. 

The  porch,  the  veranda,  or  the  piazza,  are  highly  cha- 
racteristic features,  and  no  dwelling  house  can  be  consi- 
dered complete  without  one  or  more  of  them.  The  en- 
trance door,  even  in  the  humblest  cottage,  should  always  be 
a  conspicuous  feature  in  its  front,  and  it  may  be  rendered 


22 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


SO,  by  a  porch  or  veranda  of  some  kind,  which  will  serve 
to  keep  the  entrance  dry  and  warm  in  inclement  weather. 
In  all  countries  like  ours,  where  there  are  hot  summers,  a 
veranda,  piazza  or  colonnade,  is  a  necessary  and  delightful 
appendage  to  a  dwelling-house,  and  in  fact  during  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  year,  frequently  becomes  the  favourite 
lounging  apartment  of  the  family.  Hence  a  broad  shady 
veranda  suggests  ideas  of  comfort  and  is  highly  expres- 
sive of  purpose.  For  the  same  reason  bay  or  oriel  win- 
dows, balconies,  and  terraces,  added  to  villas,  increase 
their  interest,  not  only  by  their  beauty  of  form,  but  by 
their  denoting  more  forcibly  those  elegant  enjoyments 
which  belong  to  the  habitation  of  man  in  a  cultivated  and 
refined  state  of  society. 

The  colour  of  buildings  may  very  properly  be  made  to 
increase  their  expression  of  truthfulness.  Thus  a  barn  or 
stable  being  regarded  entirely  in  a  useful  point  of  view, 
may  have  a  quiet,  unobtrusive  tone  of  colour,  while  a  cot- 
tage or  villa  should  be  of  a  cheerful  mellow  hue  harmoni- 
zing with  the  verdure  of  the  country.  A  mansion  may 
very  properly  have  a  graver  colour  than  a  cottage,  to  be  in 
unison  with  its  greater  dignity  and  extent.  There  is  one 
colour,  however,  frequently  employed  by  house  painters, 
which  we  feel  bound  to  protest  against  most  heartily,  as 
entirely  unsuitable,  and  in  bad  taste.  This  is  white,  which 
is  so  universally  applied  to  our  wooden  houses  of  every 
size  and  description.  The  glaring  nature  of  this  colour, 
when  seen  in  contrast  with  the  soft  green  of  foliage,  renders 
it  extremely  unpleasant  to  an  eye  attuned  to  harmony  of 
colouring,  and  nothing  but  its  very  great  prevalence  in  the 
United  States  could  render  even  men  of  some  taste  so 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


23 


heedless  of  its  bad  effect.  No  painter  of  landscapes,  that 
has  possessed  a  name,  was  ever  guilty  of  displaying  in  his 
pictures  a  glaring  white  house,  but,  on  the  contrary,  the 
buildings  introduced  by  the  great  masters  have  uniformly 
a  mellow  softened  shade  of  colour,  in  exquisite  keeping 
with  the  surrounding  objects.* 

We  shall  quote  on  this  subject  some  remarks  in  point  by 
Uvedale  Price,  whose  name  is  of  high  authority.t  *'One 
of  the  most  charming  effects  of  sunshine,  is  its  giving  to 
objects  not  merely  light,  but  that  mellow  golden  hue  so 
beautiful  in  itself,  and  which,  when  diffused  as  in  a  fine 
evening  over  the  whole  landscape,  creates  that  rich  union 
and  harmony  so  enchanting  in  nature  and  Claude.  In  any 
scene,  whether  real  or  painted,  when  such  harmony  pre- 
vails, the  least  discordancy  in  colour  would  disturb  the 
eye :  but  if  we  suppose  a  single  object  of  a  glaring  white 
to  be  introduced,  the  whole  attention,  in  spite  of  all  our  ef- 
forts to  the  contrary,  will  be  drawn  to  that  one  point ;  if 
many  such  objects  be  scattered  about,  the  eye  will  be  dis- 
tracted among  them.  Again,  (to  consider  it  in  another 
view,)  when  the  sun  breaks  out  in  gleams,  there  is  some- 
thing that  delights  and  surprises,  in  seeing  an  object,  be- 
fore only  visible,  lighted  up  in  splendour,  and  then  gradu- 
ally sinking  into  shade  :  but  a  whitened  object  is  already 
lighted  up ;  it  remains  so  when  every  thing  else  has  retired 
into  obscurity;  it  still  forces  itself  into  notice,  still  impu- 
dently stares  you  in  the  face.    An  object  of  a  sober  tint, 

*To  render  the  effect  still  worse,  our  modem  builders  paint  their  Venetian  window 
shutters  a  bright  green !  A  cool  dark  green  would  be  in  better  taste,  and  more  agreea- 
ble to  the  eye,  both  from  the  exterior  and  the  interior. 

t  Essays  on  the  Picturesque. 


24 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


unexpectedly  gilded  by  the  sun,  is  like  a  serious  counte- 
nance suddenly  lighted  up  by  a  smile  :  a  whitened  object 
like  the  eternal  grin  of  a  fool."  There  may  be  a  little  sar- 
casm in  the  tone  of  these  remarks,  but  that  they  are  strict- 
ly true  everj'-  fine  colon rist  will  admit. 

As  it  is  difficult  to  convey  in  words  a  proper  idea  of  de- 
licate shades  of  colour,  and  as  we  think  the  subject  one  of 
very  great  importance  in  domestic  architecture,  we  have 
given  specimens  on  the  opposite  page  of  six  shades  of 
colour  highly  suitable  for  the  exterior  of  cottages  and  villas. 
A,  B,  and  C,  are  shades  of  gray,  and  E,  F,  G,  of  drab  or 
fawn  colour;  which  will  be  found  pleasing  and  harmonious 
in  any  situation  in  the  country.  Stuccoed  or  cemented 
buildings  should  be  marked  off  in  courses,  and  tinted  to 
resemble  some  mellow  stone  ;  Bath,  Portland  stone,  or 
any  other  of  the  light  free-stone  shades,  are  generally  most 
agreeable. 

A  person  of  correct  architectural  taste  will  carry  his 
feeling  of  artistical  propriety  into  the  interior  of  his  house, 
and  confer  on  each  apartment,  by  expression  of  purpose, 
a  kind  of  individuality.  Thus,  in  a  complete  cottage-villa, 
the  hall  will  be  grave  and  simple  in  character,  a  few  plain 
seats  its  principle  furniture ;  the  library  sober  and  digni- 
fied, or  bookish  and  learned  in  its  air;  the  dining-room 
cheerful,  with  a  hospitable  sideboard  and  table ;  the 
drawing-room  lively  or  brilliant,  adorned  with  pictures  or 
other  objects  in  art,  and  evincing  more  elegance  and  gayety 
of  tone  in  its  colours  and  furniture.  The  bedrooms  would 
be  simple,  or  only  pretty,  with  abundant  ventilation,  and 
ceilings  of  full  height,  and  not  low  or  contracted. 

We  have  thus  sketched  the  ground  work  upon  which 


A 


B 


C 


D 


E 


F 


# 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


25 


architecture  rests,  fitness  and  expression  of  purpose,  but 
architecture  which  goes  no  further  is  only  a  useful,  not  a 
fine  art.  It  is  only  building.  The  true  artist  breathes  a 
life  and  soul,  which  is  beauty,  into  the  dead  utilitarian  ma- 
terials, stone  and  wood,  atid  they  speak  a  language  that  is 
understood  as  readily  as  that  of  animate  nature.  The 
mechanic  blocks  out  the  stone  from  the  quarry,  he  even 
gives  to  it  the  semblance  of  the  human  form,  but  the 
sculptor  only  moulds  the  cold  marble  into  a  passion  or  a 
sentiment  that  endures  for  ages,  and  strikes  men  of  speech 
dumb  with  its  voiceless  eloquence.  A  Greek  temple,  or 
an  old  cathedral,  speaks  to  the  soul  of  all  men  as  audibly 
as  could  a  Demosthenes.  Even  a  Swiss  chalet,  with  its 
drooping,  shadowy  eaves,  or  an  old  English  cottage,  with 
its  quaint  peaked  gables,  each  embodies  a  sentiment  in  its 
peculiar  form,  which  takes  hold  of  the  mind,  and  convinces 
us  that,  in  some  way  or  other,  it  has  a  living  power.  To 
rep!roduce  the  beautiful  in  this  manner,  and  to  infuse  a 
spirit  and  a  grace  in  forms  otherwise  only  admirable  for 
their  usefulness,  is  the  ideal  of  architecture  as  an  art  of 
taste,  and  its  inspiration  may  be  seen  here  and  there  in 
some  humble  nook-hidden  cottage,  as  well  as  in  the  dome 
of  St.  Peters. 

As  all  the  satisfaction  which  the  reason  experiences  in 
building  as  an  useful  art,  arises  from  fitness,  and  expres- 
sion of  purpose,  so  all  the  delight  which  the  imagination 
receives  from  architecture  as  an  art  of  taste,  is  derived 
from  beauty  of  form,  and  from  the  sentiment  associated  with 
certain  modes  of  building  long  prevalent  in  any  age  or 
country. 

Aside  from  certain  styles  of  architecture,  which  have 

3 


26 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


received  the  approbation  of  all  men  for  their  acknowledged 
beauty,  and  which  are  generally  followed  by  architects, 
there  are  also  some  leading  rules  which  should  govern 
us  in  the  composition  of  buildings  in  any  style,  however 
simple,  because  they  are  inherent  sources  of  beauty,  com- 
mon to  all  styles. 

The  first  of  these  is  the  principle  of  Unity,  a  principle 
of  the  highest  importance  in  all  works  of  art.  There 
should  be  an  unity  of  design  in  all  portions  of  the  same 
building,  showing,  by  a  correspondence  of  its  various  parts, 
that  they  all  originated  in  the  same  mind  ;  an  unity  of 
forms,  producing  harmony  instead  of  a  discordant  whole  ; 
an  unity  of  style,  avoiding  the  introduction  in  an  established 
mode,  of  any  portions  or  members  not  in  keeping  with  that 
mode  ;  and  an  unity  of  decoration,  evinced  in  the  appro- 
priate application  of  enrichment  to  the  whole,  rather  than 
to  a  single  part,  of  an  edifice.  These  rules  of  Unity  are  not 
unfrequently  violated  by  architects,  but  always  at 'the 
expense  of  the  beauty  and  perfection  of  their  works,  as  no 
artist  is  superior  to  principles.*    The  production  of  a  whole 
follows  as  the  result  of  attention  to  the  principles  of  Unity, 
and  our  pleasure  in  every  work  of  art  is  enduring,  precisely 
in  proportion  as  it  forms  a  perfect  whole.    Unity  is  the 
principle  of  Oneness,  and  its  violation  always  shocks  a 
tasteful  and  consistent  mind.    As  an  example  of  the  vio- 
lation of  unity  of  style,  we  might  refer  to  a  number  of 
country  chapels,   or  churches,  within  our  knowledge, 
where  a  Grecian  portico  and  Gothic  or  pointed  windows 

*  "  Every  opportunity  should  be  taken  to  discountenance  that  false  and  vulgar 
opinion, that  rules  are  the  fetters  of  genius;  they  are  fetters  only  to  men  of  no 
genius."— Sir  Joshua  Reynolds. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


27 


occur  in  the  same  composition  !  Or  to  illustrate  the  like 
in  unity  of  decoration  or  of  design,  how  many  country 
dwellings  have  we  all  seen,  with  a  highly  elegant  colonnade 
in  front,  accompanying  bare  sides,  without  the  least  cor- 
responding enrichment  in  the  windows  ! 

The  next  principles  of  composition  are  those  of  Uni- 
formity, and  of  Symmetry;  two  words  which  frequently 
pass  as  synonymous  in  common  language. 

Uniformity  in  building  is  the  repetition  of  the  same  forms 
in  the  different  portions  or  sides  of  a  building.  "  A  hut 
may  be  recognised  as  a  work  of  art,  however  rude  or 
anomalous  its  form  ;  because,  according  to  human  expe- 
rience, its  sides,  its  roof,  and  its  door,  could  never  have 
been  arranged  so  as  to  form  a  hut  by  chance.  Such  a  hut 
is  satisfactory  as  a  work  of  art,  but  nothing  more  ;  but  a 
hut  in  a  square  form,  gives  additional  satisfaction  by  the 
regularity  of  its  figure ;  which  gives  an  idea  not  only  of 
art;  but  of  cultivated  or  improved  art.  There  can  be  no 
doubt,  therefore,  that  the  love  of  regularity  is  strongly  im- 
planted in  the  human  mind  ;  since  regularity  is  the  first 
principle  which  displays  itself  in  the  works  of  man,  com- 
posed with  a  view  to  beauty."*  Hence,  those  persons  who 
have  the  least  taste  or  imagination,  will  be  found  to  prefer 
a  plain  square  or  cube,  above  all  others,  for  a  house,  as 
being  the  first  principle  of  beauty  which  they  are  able  to 
discover  in  architecture. t 

*  ArcMtectural  Magazine,  1,  221. 

t  As  besides  this,  a  square  or  parallelogram  is  the  most  economical  form  in  which 
a  house  can  be  built,  and  as  a  small  house  does  not  easily  permit  irregularity,  we 
have  adopted  it  in  designing  the  greater  number  of  cottages  which  follow,  but  we 
have  endeavoured  to  raise  them  above  mere  uniformity,  by  adding  such  character- 
istic ornaments  as  give  also  some  variety  to  the  compositions. 


% 


28 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


As  Uniformity  is  the  balance  of  two  regular  parts,  so 
the  principle  of  Symmetry  may  be  defined  the  balance  of 
two  irregular  parts  ;  in  other  words,  Uniformity  in  works 
of  art  is  artistical  regularity,  Symmetry,  artistical  irregu- 
larity. There  are  irregular  buildings  without  symmetry, 
but  in  all  irregular  compositions  entirely  satisfactory,  it 
will  generally  be  found  that  there  is  a  kind  of  hidden  pro- 
portion which  one  half  of  the  whole  bears  to  the  other, 
and  it  is  this  balance  which  constitutes  symmetry. 

A  building  may  be  highly  irregular,  it  may  abound  in 
variety  and  picturesqueness,  and  yet  be  perfectly  symme- 
trical.   In  the  annexed  rough  sketch,  (Fig.  1,)  the  pile  of 


[Figure  1.] 


building  represented,  which  is  full  of  irregularity,  is  also 
symmetrical,  for  if  we  divide  it  by  the  imaginary  line  a,  the 
portion  on  the  right  balances  that  on  the  left ;  that  is, 
though  not  in  shape,  yet  in  bulk  and  in  the  mass  of  com- 
position ;  while  in  Fig.  2,  which  is  a  uniform  or  regular 
building,  the  portion  to  the  right  balances  that  on  the  left 
both  in  form  and  bulk.  Now  almost  all  persons,  who  have 
not  cultivated  a  taste  for  architecture,  or  whose  organiza- 
tions are  deficient  in  this  faculty,  would  prefer  a  regular 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


29 


[Figure  2.] 

house  to  a  symmetrically  irregular  one,  because  with  them 
the  reason  only  demands  to  be  satisfied,  but  with  more 
cultivated  minds  the  taste  and  imagination  are  active,  and 
call  for  a  more  lively  and  varied  kind  of  beauty,  and  the 
irregular  building  would  be  chosen,  as  affording  more  in- 
tense and  enduring  pleasure. 

As  the  principles  of  Harmony,  Variety  f  &c.,  are  intimately 
connected  with,  and  may  be  said  to  grow  out  of  Unity, 
Uniformity,  and  Symmetry,  we  shall  not  in  our  present 
limits  offer  any  remarks  upon  them. 

The  different  styles  in  architecture  are  certain  modes  of 
building,  which  have  had  their  origin  in  different  countries, 
and  may  be  considered  as  standard  forms  of  architectural 
beauty.  They  have  almost,  without  exception,  had  their 
origin  in  some  lofty  enthusiasm  of  the  age,  which  was 
embodied  by  the  master  artists  of  the  time,  generally  in 
the  enthusiasm  of  rehgion.  To  the  pagan  gods  were 
reared  the  beautiful  temples  of  the  Greeks,  and,  under  the 
more  spiritual  influence  of  Christianity,  arose  those  Gothic 
cathedrals,  in  which  the  ponderous  stone  was  wrought  in 
the  most  exquisite  modifications  of  intricacy  and  beauty — 
those  cathedrals  which,  says  an  eloquent  writer,  are  "  a 


30 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


blossoming  in  stone,  subdued  by  the  insatiable  demand  of 
harmony  in  man-"  In  like  manner  the  oriental  style,  dis- 
tinguished b}^  its  mosques  and  minarets,  and  the  Egyptian, 
by  its  pyramids  and  cavernous  temples,  have  all  had  their 
origin  in  the  same  lofty  aspirations  of  the  artist. 

All  domestic  architecture,  in  a  given  style,  should  be  a 
subdued  expression  or  manifestation  of  that  style,  adjusted 
to  the  humbler  requirements  of  the  building  and  the  more 
quiet  purposes  of  domestic  life.  Hence  it  would  evidently 
be  absurd  to  copy  a  cathedral,  in  building  a  dwelling  in 
the  Gothic  style,  or  a  temple  in  a  cottage  after  the  Grecian 
mode. 

Nearly  all  the  modes  of  building  in  modern  use  may  be 
referred  to  two  original  styles,  of  which  they  are  only 
modifications  or  varieties,  viz.,  to  the  Grecian,  in  which 
horizontal  lines  prevail,  and  to  the  Gothic,  in  which  verti- 
cal lines  prevail ;  and  there  have  not  been  wanting  artists 
who  have  caught  something  of  the  spirit  and  beauty  of  the 
original  masterpieces  of  art,  and  transfused  them  into  the 
more  domestic  styles  which  have  grown  out  of  these,  to 
suit  the  wants  of  civilized  life.  Thus,  although  the  pure 
Grecian  style  (the  temple)  was  not  intended,  and  is  not 
suitable  for  domestic  purposes,  the  Roman  and  the  Italian 
styles,  which  are  modified  forms  of  it,  are  elegant  adapta- 
tions of  its  characteristic  forms  to  this  purpose.  The 
Italian  style,  by  its  verandas  and  balconies,  its  projecting 
roofs,  and  the  capacity  and  variety  of  its  form,  is  especially 
suited  to  a  warm  climate. 

In  the  same  manner  the  Swiss,  the  Flemish,  and  other 
continental  modes  of  building,  with  exterior  galleries,  and 
wide  horizontal  cornices,  are  all  variations  of  this  mode, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


31 


only  differing  in  some  peculiar  adaptation  to  the  climate 
of  the  country,  or  the  customs  of  the  people. 

Neither  has  the  Gothic  been  confined  to  the  cathedral, 
where,  as  the  noblest  form,  it  exists  in  its  grandeur  and 
purity,  but  its  beauty  and  picturesqueness  have  reappeared 
in  the  old  English  styles  of  domestic  architecture.  The 
most  perfect  examples  are  those  of  the  castles  and  mansions 
of  England  of  the  time  of  the  Tudors,  but  the  whole  of  the 
cottage  architecture  of  England  is  imbued  with  its  spirit, 
and  the  manifestations  are  every  where  visible,  in  quaintly 
carved  gables  or  verge  boards,  wreathed  and  clustered 
chimneys,  beautiful  windows  ornamented  with  tracery, 
and  numberless  other  details,  highly  expressive  and  cha- 
racteristic. 

In  adopting  any  style  for  imitation,  our  preference  should 
be  guided  not  only  by  the  intrinsic  beauty  which  we  see 
in  a  particular  style,  but  by  its  appropriateness  to  our 
uses.  This  will  generally  be  indicated  by  the  climate, 
the  site,  or  situation,  and  the  wants  of  the  family  who  are  to 
inhabit  it.  In  a  high  northern  latitude,  where  it  is  evident 
colonnades  and  verandas  would  be  unsuitable  for  most  of 
the  year,  the  Italian  or  Grecian  styles  should  not  be 
chosen,  and  in  a  tropical  one,  the  warm,  solid,  comfortable 
features  of  the  old  English  architecture  would  not  be 
necessary  or  appropriate.  In  a  country  like  the  middle 
portions  of  the  United  States,  where  the  summers  are  hot 
and  the  winters  cold,  there  is  sufficient  latitude  for  the 
adoption  of  various  styles  of  building,  and  therefore  more 
judgment  or  taste  is  requisite  in  the  selection. 

The  different  styles  of  architecture  have  been  very  aptly 
compared  to  different  languages,  employed  by  various 


32 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


architects  to  express  their  ideas,  and  which,  when  perfect, 
always  remain  nearly  fixed,  and  best  express  the  wants  of 
a  particular  age  or  country.  We  may  safely  carry  out 
this  illustration,  and  say  that  the  temples  and  cathedrals 
are  the  orations  and  epic  poems,  the  dwelhng-houses  the 
familiar  epistles,  or  conversations  of  the  particular  styles. 

In  expressing  our  architectural  ideas  by  the  medium  of 
a  certain  style  or  language,  we  shall  succeed  best,  and  our 
efforts  will  afford  n:iost  delight,  the  more  nearly  we  ap- 
proach to  the  nature  of  the  circumstances  under  which 
the  style  or  language  originated.  Thus,  if  we  talk  pure 
Greek,  and  build  a  Grecian  temple  for  a  dwelling,  we  shall 
be  little  understood,  or  perhaps  only  laughed  at  by  our 
neighbours.  It  is  not  much  better  in  the  present  day  to 
recite  an  epic  poem  by  building  a  cathedral,  or  a  heroic 
one  by  constructing  a  castle  for  our  habitation.  Let  us 
rather  be  more  sensible,  though  not  less  graceful  in  our 
architectural  utterance,  and  express  a  pleasant,  every-day 
language,  in  an  old  English  mansion,  a  Rural  Gothic  cot- 
tage, or  an  Italian  villa. 

For  domestic  architecture,  we  would  strongly  recommend 
those  simple  modifications  of  architectural  styles,  where 
the  beauty  grows  out  of  the  enrichment  of  some  useful  or 
elegant  features  of  the  house,  as  the  windows  or  verandas, 
rather  than  those  where  some  strongly  marked  features,  of 
little  domestic  beauty,  overpower  the  rest  of  the  building. 
The  Rural  Gothic  style,  characterised  mainly  by  pointed 
gables,  and  the  Italian,  by  projecting  roofs,  balconies  and 
terraces,  are  much  the  most  beautiful  modes  for  our 
country  residences.  Their  outlines  are  highly  picturesque 
and  harmonious  with  nature.  Their  forms  are  convenient, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


33 


their  accessories  elegant,  and  they  are  highly  expressive 
of  the  refined  and  unostentatious  enjoyments  of  the  country. 
We  have  pointed  out  in  another  work  the  objections  that 
may  fairly  be  urged  against  the  false  taste  lately  so  preva- 
lent among  us,  in  building  our  country  houses  in  the  form 
of  Greek  temples,  sacrificing  thereby  the  beauty  of 
variety,  much  convenience,  and  all  the  comfort  of  low  and 
shady  verandas,  to  the  ambitious  display  of  a  portico  of 
stately  columns ;  and  we  are  happy  to  see  that  the  fashion 
is  on  the  decline.  Let  us  hope  speedily  to  see  in  its  place 
a  correct  taste  springing  up  in  every  part  of  the  country, 
which  shall  render  our  Cottage  homes  beautiful,  not  by 
borrowing  the  features  or  enrichments  of  a  temple  or 
palace,  but  by  seeking  beautiful  and  appropriate  forms, 
characteristic  of  domestic  life,  and  indicative  of  home 
comforts. 

Not  a  little  of  the  delight  of  beautiful  buildings  to  a  cul- 
tivated mind  grows  out  of  the  sentiment  of  architecture,  or 
the  associations  connected  with  certain  styles.  Thus  the 
sight  of  an  old  English  villa  will  call  up  in  the  mind  of  one 
familiar  with  the  history  of  architecture,  the  times  of  the 
Tudors,  or  of  "  merry  England,"  in  the  days  of  Elizabeth. 
The  mingled  quaintness,  beauty,  and  picturesqueness  of 
the  exterior,  no  less  than  the  oaken  wainscoat,  curiously 
carved  furniture  and  fixtures  of  the  interior  of  such  a 
dwelling,  when  harmoniously  complete,  seem  to  transport 
one  back  to  a  past  age,  the  domestic  habits,  the  hearty 
hospitality,  the  joyous  old  sports,  and  the  romance  and 
chivalry  of  which,  invest  it,  in  the  dim  retrospect,  with  a 
kind  of  golden  glow,  in  which  the  shadowy  lines  of  poetry 
and  reality  seem  strangely  interwoven  and  blended. 

4 


34 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


So  too  an  Italian  villa  may  recall,  to  one  familiar  with 
Italy  and  art,  by  its  bold  roof  lines,  its  campanile  and  its 
shady  balconies,  the  classic  beauty  of  that  fair  and  smiling 
land,  where  pictures,  sculptured  figures,  vases,  and  urns, 
in  all  exquisite  forms,  make  part  of  the  decorations  and 
"  surroundings"  of  domestic  and  public  edifices.  A  resi- 
dence in  the  Roman  style  (more  suitable  than  the  Grecian) 
may,  by  its  dignified  elegance  of  arrangement  and  decora- 
tion, recall  to  the  classic  mind  the  famed  Tusculum  retreat 
of  Pliny.  And  one  fond  of  the  wild  and  picturesque, 
whose  home  chances  to  be  in  someone  of  our  rich  mountain 
valleys,  may  give  it  a  peculiar  charm  to  some  minds  by 
imitating  the  Swiss  cottage,  or,  at  least,  its  expressive  and 
striking  features.  A  great  deal  of  the  charm  of  architec- 
tural style,  in  all  cases,  will  arise  from  the  happy  union  be- 
tween the  locality  or  site,  and  the  style  chosen,  and  from 
the  entireness  with  which  the  architect  or  amateur  enters 
into  the  spirit  and  character  of  the  style,  and  carries  it 
through  his  whole  work.  This  may  be  done  in  a  small 
cottage,  and  at  little  cost,  as  well  as  in  a  mansion,  at  great 
expens^;  but  it  requires  more  taste  and  skill  to  achieve 
the  former  admirably,  although  the  latter  may  involve  ten 
times  the  magnitude. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


35 


DESIGN  1. 
A  suburban  cottage  for  a  small  family. 

We  have  supposed  this  cottage  to  be  situated  in  the 
suburbs  of  a  town  or  village,  and,  for  the  sake  of  illustra- 
ting the  treatment  of  a  small  portion  of  ground,  we  shall 
also  imagine  it  to  be  placed  on  a  lot  of  ground  75  feet  front 
by  150  deep,  which,  at  the  time  of  commencing  the  building, 
has  upon  it  no  trees  or  improvements  of  any  description. 

By  referring  to  the  plan  of  the  first  floor  of  this  cottage, 
Fig.  4,  the  reader  will  perceive  on  the  left  of  the  hall,  the 
parlour,  or  living-room,  16  feet  by  22  feet,  having  in  com- 
munication with  it,  a  pantry,  and  a  closet  for  books — each 
4  feet  by  8  feet.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall  are,  the 
kitchen  14  feet  by  16,  and  a  bedroom  12  feet  by  16  feet. 
In  the  plan  of  the  chamber  floor,  Fig.  5,  there  are  four  bed- 


[Fig.  5.] 

rooms  of  good  size,  and  one  of  small  dimensions.  Suffi- 
cient cellar  room  will  be  obtained  under  the  living-room, 


36  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 

closets,  and  hall,  and  it  will  not  therefore  be  necessary  to 
excavate  for  this  purpose  under  the  kitchen  and  first  floor 
bedroom ;  a  circumstance  which  will  lessen  the  expense 
in  building  the  foundation  walls. 

This  simple  cottage  would  be  a  suitable  one  for  a  small 
family  when  the  mistress  wishes  to  have  the  management 
of  the  domestic  affairs  directly  under  her  own  personal 
care  and  supervision.  In  such  a  case  it  is  indispensable  to 
have  the  kitchen  on  the  same  floor  with  the  living-room, 
though,  if  possible,  not  opening  directly  into  it ;  as,  in  such 
a  case,  the  smell  arising  from  the  cooking  would  be  in  un- 
pleasant proximity  to  the  latter.  We  have  therefore  placed 
it  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall,  though  but  a  few  steps 
from  the  living-room..  In  a  cottage  of  this  description,  the 
master  and  mistress  will  generally  prefer  to  have  their  own 
bedroom  on  the  first  floor,  and  we  have  accordingly  placed 
it  opposite  the  living-room. 

Although  this  cottage  is  of  very  moderate  size,  yet,  to 
a  family  of  small  means,  leading  a  comparatively  retired 
life,  it  will  afford  a  great  deal  of  comfort,  and  even  a 
considerable  degree  of  taste  or  neatness.  The  parlour 
or  living-room,  is  comparatively  large ;  its  outline  is 
agreeably  varied  by  the  bay  window  opposite  the  fire- 
place— and  the  closet  of  books  connected  with  it,  indica- 
ting a  certain  degree  of  mental  cultivation,  may  very  fairly 
stand  in  the  place  of  the  library  which  forms  one  of  the 
suite  of  apartments  in  a  larger  cottage  or  villa.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  pantry  opening  into  the  same  apartment 
renders  it  equally  eligible  and  convenient  as  a  dining- 
room.  However  large  our  dweUing-houses  may  be,  inclu- 
ding every  grade  from  a  cottage  to  a  palace,  if  they  are 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


37 


occupied  by  a  family  of  moderate  size,  it  will  be  found 
that  more  than  one  room  is  seldom  used  at  a  time,  and  that 
all  the  actual  comforts  of  domestic  life  maybe  realized  in  a 
cottage  of  this  class,  containing  only  a  single  parlour  or  liv- 
ing-room, as  well  as  in  a  mansion  of  a  dozen  apartments. 
"  I  must  confess,"  says  Cowley,  "I  love  littleness  almost 
in  all  things.  A  little  cheerful  house,  a  little  company,  and 
a  very  little  feast."  Whatever  is  necessary  beyond  this, 
arises  either  from  the  desire  to  enjoy  a  more  luxurious 
style  of  living,  or  from  the  wish  to  entertain  a  larger  circle 
of  friends.  Now  as  neither  of  these  are  supposed  to  come 
within  the  wishes  or  means  of  the  inmates  of  a  cottage  like 
the  present,  its  accommodation  will  be  found  ample.  And 
supposing  one  or  two  of  the  attic  chambers  occupied  by 
younger  members  of  the  family,  and  another  by  a  domestic 
or  domestics,  there  will  still  remain  a  *'  spare  room"  w^hich 
we  shall  suppose  always  neat  and  clean,  ready  for  the 
friend  or  stranger  who  may  enjoy  the  cordial  welcome  of 
the  cottage. 

In  building  this  cottage,  the  kitchen  should  be  provided 
with  a  brick  drain,  leading  from  the  sink  to  some  large 
drain  at  a  distance  from  the  house,  or,  in  case  this  is  im- 
practicable, to  a  reservoir  dug  at  a  distance  of  thirty  or 
fifty  feet  from  the  house  in  a  gravelly  stratum,  where  the 
drainage  may  lose  itself  in  the  soil.  This  reservoir  may 
be  of  the  size  of  a  cistern  of  ordinary  capacity,  the  sides 
built  up  with  a  dry  wall,  the  top  covered  by  flag 
stones,  and  the  whole  finally  covered  by  soil.  In  order  to 
prevent  smells  arising  to  the  kitchen  from  the  drain,  it 
must  be  provided  with  a  smell-trapy  which  is  easily  con- 
structed.   If  the  water  from  the  well,  or  cistern,  or  both,  is 


38 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


introduced  by  a  leaden  pipe  and  small  pump  into  a  corner  of 
the  kitchen  over  the  sink,  it  will  add  still  further  to  the  con- 
venience of  performing  the  culinary  labour  of  the  dwelling. 

As  regards  external  effect,  we  think  this  cottage  will  be 
allowed  to  be  very  pleasing  to  the  eye.  Aside  from  any 
other  quality,  its  uniformity  will  be  a  source  of  satisfaction 
to  a  larger  class  of  persons  who  do  not  relish  irregularity 
in  any  building.  There  are  also  several  features  entering 
into  the  composition  of  this  cottage,  which  give  it  at  once 
the  air  of  something  superior  in  design  to  ordinary  build- 
ings of  the  same  class.  The  first  of  these  is  the  veranda, 
ornamented  by  brackets  between  the  supports,  which  shel- 
ters the  entrance  door  and  affords  an  agreeable  place  both 
for  walking  in  damp  or  unpleasant  weather,  and  to  enjoy 
a  cool  shaded  seat  in  the  hotter  portions  of  the  season. 
The  second  feature,  is  the  projection  of  the  eaves,  with  the 
ornamental  eave-board,  which  serves  to  protect  the  exte- 
rior more  completely  than  any  other  form  against  the 
effects  of  storms,  and  gives  character  by  its  boldness  and 
the  deep  shadows  it  casts  upon  the  building.  The  chim- 
ney tops  are  rendered  suflSciently  ornamental  to  accord  with 
the  degree  of  decoration  displayed  in  the  other  portions  of 
the  cottage  ;  and  something  of  the  bracketted  character  is 
kept  up  in  the  dressings  of  the  window  and  door-frames. 
The  projecting  dormer-window  adds  beauty  and  gives  im- 
portance to  the  entrance  front. 

If  we  suppose  this  cottage,  stripped  of  its  projecting 
eaves,  its  bracketted  veranda,  its  dormer-window,  and  the 
little  decoration  visible  in  the^chimneys  tops  and  other  de- 
tails, we  shall  have  a  building  in  the  form  of  a  parallelo- 
gram of  the  very  plainest  description.    Such  a  building 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


39 


would  be  distinguishable  from  a  barn  or  outhouse  only  by 
the  presence  of  chimneys  and  windows  of  larger  size,  and 
would  convey  to  the  mind  no  impression  whatever  of  re- 
finement in  its  occupants.  By  a  trifling  additional  outlay 
at  the  time  of  building,  amounting  to  from  7  to  10  per  cent, 
on  the  whole  cost,  such  a  plain  dwelling  may  be  made  the 
ornamental  cottage  shown  in  Design  I.,  which  we  think 
would  strike  every  observer  as  being  tasteful  and  agree- 
able to  the  eye. 

Construction*    This  cottage,  being  light  and  somewhat 
fanciful  in  its  character,  may  be 

 built  of  wood  filled  in  with  brick. 

?o  The  roof  should  project  20  inches 

^  '         or  2  feet,  and  the  roof  of  the  ve- 
randa in  proportion.    A  portion 
of  this  veranda  is  shown  in  Fig. 
6,  and  a  section  of  the  pillars  or 
[Fig.  6.]  supports  in  Fig.  7.    z.  The  or- 

namental cornice,  which  surrounds  the  . 


building,  is  shown  more  in  detail  at?/;  ^^^^^^^^ 
the  pendant  portion  being  cut  out  of  inch 
board,    and  the   points  terminated  by 
acorns  turned,  and  nailed  on.    The  de-  ^ 
tails  y  and  z,  are  to  the  scale  of  one  half         ^^ig.  7] 
of  an  inch  to  a  foot. 

Brick-and-cement  would  be  a  very  suitable  mode  of 
construction  for  this  cottage,  as  the  projecting  roof  would 
afford  perfect  security  for  the  dryness  and  preservation  of 
the  walls.  In  this  mode  of  building  the  roughest  bricks 
may  be  used,  and  are  really  preferable,  as  affording  a  bet- 
ter surface  for  receiving  and   retaining  the  stucco  than 


40 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


smooth  ones.  In  many  districts,  where  bricks  are  easily  ob- 
tained, this  kind  of  building  will  be  found  as  cheap  as  wood. 

It  will  be  observed  that  in  this  design  and  the  seven 
others  that  follow,  we  have  placed  the  chimneys  in  the 
interior,  not  in  the  exterior  walls,  a  point  of  considerable 
importance,  which  is  greatly  overlooked  by  our  builders. 
When  a  stack  of  chimneys  is  built  in  the  outer  walls,  it 
seldom  continues  w^arm  during  the  whole  twenty-four 
hours,  as  it  parts  with  its  heat  rapidly  to  the  cold  external 
air.  Now  as  a  good  draught  depends,  in  a  great  degree,  on 
the  warmth  of  the  column  of  air,  and  this  upon  the  heat  of 
the  chimney,  it  is  evident  that  chimneys  in  the  interior  of  a 
house  must  draw  better  than  in  the  exterior  walls.  Be- 
sides this,  a  great  deal  of  heat  is  retained  in  the  body  of 
the  house  by  carrying  the  stacks  of  flues  through  it.  And 
in  point  of  external  eflfect,  it  is  much  more  pleasing  to  see 
the  chimney  tops  rising  from  the  apex,  or  highest  part  of 
the  roof,  than  from  its  lowest  edge. 

Estimate.  The  estimated  cost  of  this  cottage,  finished 
in  a  neat  and  suitable  manner,  is  $1800.  This,  as  well  as 
the  estimates  which  follow,  is  intended  to  apply  to  the  ma- 
jority of  situations  in  the  middle  and  eastern  states,  where 
timber  is  comparatively  scarce,  and  bricks  of  second  quality 
suitable  for  stuccoing  upon,  are  worth  about  $4  per 
1000.  In  districts  where  wood  is  much  cheaper,  the  cost 
of  erection  would  be  much  less,  if  this  material  were 
wholly  employed. 

Laying  out  the  ground.  As  this  cottage  is  decidedly 
ornamental  in  its  character,  it  may  fairly  be  presumed,  that 
it  would  be  required  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the 


42  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


limited  ground  nearest  the  house  should  be  rendered  orna- 
mental also.  In  the  suburbs  of  a  town  or  village,  the 
more  common  kinds  of  vegetables  may  generally  be  pur- 
chased as  cheaply  as  they  can  be  raised  by  the  inmates  of 
such  a  cottage.  The  more  delicate  kinds  of  fruit,  and  a  few 
of  the  earlier  or  finer  kinds  of  vegetables,  may  however  be 
produced,  of  fine  flavor,  and  with  more  satisfaction  to  the 
proprietor,  on  the  spot.  We  have  therefore  devoted  one 
third  of  the  area  of  the  lot.  Fig.  8,  to  the  kitchen  garden  a, 
and  the  remaining  two  thirds  will  remain  to  be  occupied 
by  the  house,  and  for  ornamental  purposes.  In  order  to 
separate  these  two  portions,  and  to  prevent  the  eye  of  a 
person  looking  from  the  house,  or  from  any  of  the  walks 
across  the  little  lawn  Z>,  from  seeing  the  kitchen  garden 
at  the  same  time  with  the  ornamental  portion,  we  shall 
place  an  ornamental  trellis  across  the  lot  at  c,  which  may 
be  covered  by  the  following  vines,  remarkable  for  the 
beauty  of  their  foliage  and  flowers,  or  for  their  fragrance. 


2  Chinese  Twining  Honeysuckles,  blooming  in  June  and  October. 


VIZ  : 


2  Monthly  Fragrant  " 
1  Yellow  Trumpet  " 
1  Red  "  " 

1  Sweet  Scented  Clematis, 
1  Virginian  Silk,  or  Periploca, 
1  Chinese  Wistaria, 

1  Climbing  Boursalt  Rose, 

2  Noisette  Climbing  Rose, 


May  to  November. 
May  to  November. 
May  to  November. 
August. 


July. 
May, 


June. 

May  to  December. 


These,  after  a  couple  of  years  growth,  will  form  a 
verdant  barrier,  which  in  no  season,  except  winter,  will 
be  without  flowers.    Across  the  walks  leading  into  the 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


43 


kitchen  garden,  the  lattice  fence  may  be  continued  in  the 
form  of  light  gates,  and  the  vines  may  be  trained  so  as  to 
form  archways  overhead. 

Around  the  exterior  of  the  kitchen  garden  is  a  border  6 
feet  wide,  which  will  be  an  excellent  situation  for  a  few 
choice  fruit  trees  ;  because,  if  planted  on  this  exterior 
border  they  will  not  shade  the  beds  devoted  to  vegetables, 
which  if  planted  in  the  middle  of  the  compartment,  they 
would  soon  do  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  the  situ- 
ation unfit  for  raising  a  crop  of  any  kind.  On  the  right 
hand  border,  which  is  the  warmest  aspect,  we  would 
advise  the  planting  of  some  grape  vines,  which  may  either 
be  trained  to  the  fence,  or  to  a  trellis  placed  four  or  five 
inches  from  the  fence.  These  vines  may  consist  of  a  Ca- 
tawba, an  Isabella,  an  Elsingburgh,  and  a  Bland's  Virginia, 
all  hardy  varieties,  very  productive,  and  requiring  little 
care.  On  the  other  two  outer  borders,  there  will  be  suffi- 
cient room  for  one  tree  of  each  of  the  following  fruits,  viz  : 
a  Bartlett,  a  Seckel,  and  a  Dutchess  of  Angouleme  Pear  ; 
a  George  the  Fourth,  and  a  Yellow  Rareripe  Peach  ;  an 
Imperial  Gage  and  a  Golden  Drop  Plum  ;  a  Mayduke, 
and  a  Downer's  Late  Red  Cherry ;  and  a  Moorpark  Apri- 
cot. In  the  same  borders,  and  beneath  these  fruit  trees, 
strawberries  may  be  planted,  making  a  bed  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  long,  which  if  kept  in  good  con- 
dition, will  be  sufficient  to  supply  a  small  family  with  this 
delicious  fruit.  The  border  to  the  right,  containing  the 
grape  vines,  we  shall  suppose  (except  immediately  around 
the  vine)  to  be  kept  in  grass,  in  which  neat  posts  are  set 
at  a  distance  of  twelve  feet  apart,  for  the  purpose  of 
stretching  a  line  for  drying  clothes  upon.  These  posts 
'being  half  way  between  the  frame  or  trellis,  upon  which 


44 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


the  grapes  are  trained,  and  the  walk,  the  hne  would 
be  easily  commanded,  by  a  person  standing  upon  the 
walk.  The  space  devoted  to  culinary  vegetables,  we  have 
merely  indicated  by  beds  four  feet  wide  on  the  plan,  leav- 
ing the  occupant  to  apportion  the  same  to  their  various 
uses,  premising  that  the  large  bed  in  the  centre,  at  a,  is 
intended  for  asparagus  the  three  smaller  ones,  dy  lor 
sweet  herbs  ;  and  the  long  bed,  x?  behind  the  trellis, 
covered  b}^  ornamental  vines,  for  the  esculent  rhubard, 
which  is  so  valuable  an  article  for  tarts,  or  pies,  that  no 
cottage  garden,  however  small,  should  be  without  it. 

Such  a  thing  as  a  wall  for  fruit  trees,  in  a  cottage  garden, 
is  nearly  unknown  in  the  United  States,  and  therefore  we 
need  say  nothing  respecting  training  them  to  a  wall.  But 
a  cottage  garden  is  usually  surrounded  by  a  neat  board 
fence  or  paling,  painted  some  dark  or  inconspicuous 
colour,  and  as  the  number  of  fruit  trees  that  could  be  judi- 
ciously planted  here,  is  small,  we  w^ould  strongly  advise 
the  owner  of  this  garden  to  train  the  branches  to  this 
fence,  or  to  a  trellis  formed  by  nailing  narrow  strips  of 
board,  trellis  like,  at  a  distance  of  four  or  five  inches  from 
the  fence.  The  luxuriance  and  fruitfulness  of  trees  planted 
as  ordinary  standards,  in  most  parts  of  the  country,  is  the 
very  obvious  reason  w^hy,  except  in  gardens  of  the  first 
class,  a  trained  tree  is  so  rarely  seen ;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  superior  size  and  beauty  of  the  fruit  raised  in 
this  way,  make  it  an  object  of  considerable  importance, 
when  the  number  of  trees  is  small.  Besides  this,  the 
trees  occupy  so  much  less  space,  interfere  so  little  with 
the  growth  of  any  thing  else  that  may  be  near  or  under 
them,  and  are  so  much  more  completely  under  the  control 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


45 


of  the  gardener,  that  we  are  certain  they  would,  if  trained, 
afford  ten  times  the  satisfaction  at  all  times,  beyond  that 
derived  from  standard  trees,  cultivated,  or,  rather,  left  to 
grow,  in  the  usual  manner. 

Proceeding  now  to  the  ornamental  portion  of  the  ground, 
we  shall  suppose  the  outer  border  e,  to  be  planted  with  a 
small  mixed  collection  of  handsome  trees  and  shrubs,  of 
such  varieties  as  may  be  easily  and  cheaply  procured. 
The  trees  may  be  planted  at  considerable  distances,  as  a 
very  few,  when  they  have  attained  some  size,  will  be 
sufficient  for  this  limited  surface.  In  the  intermediate 
spaces,  room  will  be  found  for  quite  a  variety  of  shrubs, 
interspersed  with  several  sorts  of  hardy  roses.  In  the 
centre  of  each  of  the  two  small  circles  fronting  the  house, 
we  will  place  a  Balsam,  or  Balm  of  Gilead  fir,  one  of  the 
finest  evergreens  in  this  climate,  as  it  preserves  its  rich 
green  verdure  unimpaired  throughout  the  coldest  winter. 
These  firs,  with  two  or  three  additional  evergreens  in  the 
swell  of  the  front  border,  will  give  a  cheerful  aspect  to  the 
entrance  front  of  the  cottage,  during  the  winter  months. 

The  border  marked  /,  in  the  plan,  that  directly  sur- 
rounds the  building,  should  be  laid  down  in  turf,  which,  if 
kept  short,  will  be  much  more  pleasing  and  satisfactory 
than  if  kept  in  a  raw  state  by  cultivation — partly  from  the 
greater  appearance  of  permanence  in  a  turf  border,  and 
partly  from  its  greater  neatness  at  all  seasons.  In  this  turf 
border  may  be  planted  a  few  choice  shrubs,  or  roses, 
selecting  such  as  are  remarkable  for  beauty  of  leaf  and 
flower,  or  for  their  fragrance  ;  as  from  their  nearness  to 
the  windows,  the  latter  may  be  enjoyed  in  the  summer, 
while  the  windows  are  open,  through  the  whole  house. 


46 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


There  are  about  a  dozen  of  these  shrubs  indicated  on  the 
plan  which  we  shall  suppose  to  be  the  following,  viz  : 


2  Champney  Cluster  Rose  {Rosa  champneyana),        May  to  Nov. 


These  are  all  deliciously  fragrant  when  in  flower,  and 
some  of  the  number  will  be  in  bloom  during  the  whole 
growing  season. 

Quite  an  area  6,  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  is  devoted  to 
a  lawn,  which  must  be  kept  close  and  green  by  frequent 
mowings,  so  that  it  will  be  as  soft  to  the  tread  as  a  carpet, 
and  that  its  deep  verdure  will  set  off  the  gay  colours  of 
the  flowering  plants  in  the  surrounding  beds  and  parterre. 
This  little  lawn  is  terminated  by  an  irregular  or  arabesque 
border  g,  varying  in  width  from  four  to  fourteen  feet.  The 
irregular  form  of  this  border  is  preferable  to  a  regular  one 
on  account  of  its  more  agreeable  outline,  and  more  espe- 
cially for  the  reason  that,  to  a  person  looking  across  the  lawn 
from  any  part  of  the  walk  near  the  house,  this  variety  of 
form  in  the  boundary  increases  the  apparent  size  of  the 
area  of  turf  which  it  encloses.  To  give  still  further 
variety  and  effect,  we  have  introduced  also  the  two 
small  beds  h,  and  i,  cut  in  the  turf ;  the  former  of  which 
may  be  planted  with  monthly  roses  of  any  free-blooming 
sorts,  and  the  latter  may  be  filled  with  mignonette  by  sow- 
ing the  seeds  annually  in  April.  The  monthly  roses  will 
be  covered  with  bloom  all  the  season,  and  will  stand  the 


Blooms  in 


2  Pink  Mezereon  (Daphne  Mezereum), 

2  Sweet  Scented  Shrub  {Calycanthusjlorida)^ 


March. 
June. 


2  Fragrant  Clethra  {Clethra  alnifolia)^ 
2  Purple  Magnolia  {Magnolia  ohovata)^ 
2  Missouri  Currant  (Ribes  aureum)^ 


August. 

April. 

April. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


47 


winter  perfectly  well  in  the  open  air  any  where  south  of 
Albanj^  with  the  trifling  care  of  throwing  a  little  straw,  or 
litter,  over  them  at  the  approach  of  winter,  to  protect  them 
against  the  changes  of  temperature. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  kitchen  garden  is  kept  out 
of  view  to  a  person  standing  at  Z>,  by  the  trellised  screen  c, 
covered  with  a  luxuriant  wreath  of  honeysuckles  and  other 
climbing  plants,  six  or  eight  feet  in  height.  We  shall  next 
suppose  the  arabesque  border  devoted  to  a  miscellane- 
ous collection  of  perennial  flowering  plants,  or  herbaceous 
plants,  as  they  are  generally  termed,  arranging  them  so 
that  those  of  a  few  inches  in  height  shall  be  near  the  front 
margin  of  the  border,  those  of  a  larger  size  next,  and  so 
gradually  increasing  in  size  until  the  largest  growing  ones, 
perhaps  three  feet  in  height,  shall  be  at  the  back  of  the 
border  and  farthest  from  the  eye.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  have  costly  varieties  of  plants,  or  a  large  collection,  to 
render  this  border  a  handsome  object  to  look  upon,  but  on 
the  contrary  a  few  well  selected  species,  which  may 
be  procured  for  a  trifling  sum  from  a  nursery,  or  the 
greater  part  of  which  may  be  had  from  the  garden  of  some 
neighbouring  amateur,  will  serve  to  render  this  border 
rich  and  beautiful,  in  leaf  and  blossom,  all  the  season.  In 
the  description  of  Design  V.,  we  shall  give  a  list  of  the 
most  ornamental  varieties  of  border  perennials,  from  which 
the  reader  may  choose  for  this  or  any  other  garden.  If, 
however,  the  occupant  of  this  cottage  should  desire  to  be 
at  little  or  no  cost  for  border  flowers,  and  still  should 
wish  to  produce  a  considerable  effect,  it  may  be  done  by 
planting  the  bed  with  masses  of  the  following  showy  pe- 
rennials— 


48 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Double  red  Ragged  Robin,  {Lynchis  Jlos-cucuU.) 

Orange  Chelone,  {Chelone  barbata.) 

Chinese  Pinks,  (Dianthus  sinensis.) 

Bee  Larkspur,  {Delphinium  elatum.) 

White  Lily,  {Lilium  candidum.) 

Japan  White  Lily,  (Hemeroallis  japonica.) 

Early  White  Phlox,  (Phlox  suaveolens.) 

Late  Purple  Phlox,  (Phlox  autumnalis.) 

Fragrant  Blue  Violet,  (Viola  odorata.) 

Blue  Omphalodes,  (Omphalodes  verna.) 
Chinese  White  and  Rose, 

PcEonias,  (Pceonia  whitlejii  and  fragrans.) 

Hearts-ease  or  Pansy,         (  Viola  tricolor.) 

Or,  as  a  few  seeds  of  ornamental  annuals  are  easily  and 
cheaply  procured  at  the  seed  shops,  the  variety  may  be 
increased  by  sowing  the  seeds  of  twenty  or  thirty  species 
of  the  latter,  in  the  spaces  that  would  be  left  between  the 
masses  of  herbaceous  plants,  taking  care  to  arrange  them 
with  regard  to  height,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  pe- 
rennials, as  otherwise  the  taller  plants  near  the  eye  would 
hide  the  smaller  and  more  delicate  ones  at  the  back  of  the 
border. 

We  trust  the  reader  who  has  followed  us  in  our  de- 
scription, will  acknowledge  that  this  cottage,  with  its 
moderate  accommodations  and  small  lot  of  ground,  may 
be  made  productive  of  a  considerable  degree  of  interest 
and  beauty,  as  well  as  comfort  and  enjoyment.  There  is 
nothing  in  the  plan  of  the  house  or  garden,  that  may  not 
be  realized  by  a  family  living  upon  a  very  snlall  income, 
provided  the  members  of  the  family  are  persons  of  some 
taste  and  refinement,  who  appreciate  the  value  and  pleasure 
of  such  a  residence,  sufiiciently  to  take  a  strong  personal 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


49 


interest  in  it.  The  master  of  the  premises  we  shall  sup- 
pose capable  of  managing  the  kitchen  garden,  the  fruit 
trees,  the  grass,  and  the  whole  of  the  walks,  himself,  with 
perhaps  the  assistance  of  a  common  gardener,  or  laboring 
man,  for  a  day  or  two,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year. 
The  mistress  and  her  daughter,  or  daughters,  we  shall 
suppose  to  have  sufficient  fondness  for  flowers,  to  be  will- 
ing and  glad  to  spend  three  times  a  week,  an  hour  or  two, 
in  the  cool  mornings  and  evenings  of  summer,  in  the 
pleasing  task  of  planting,  tying  to  neat  stakes,  picking  oflf 
decayed  flowers,  and  removing  weeds  from  the  borders, 
and  all  other  operations  that  so  limited  a  garden  may 
require. 

A  love  for  these  floral  occupations,  so  simple  and  so 
natural,  that  in  all  times  and  countries  they  have  been 
the  delight  of  the  highest,  as  well  as  the  lowest,  insensibly 
strengthens  upon  us  as  we  become  interested  in  the  growth 
of  plants  and  the  development  of  the  varied  forms  of 
beauty  and  grace  with  which  every  leaf,  tendril,  and 
blossom  is  replete  ;  and  the  exercise  involved  in  the  pur- 
suit, thus  soon  becomes,  also,  a  source  of  pleasure  and 
mental  satisfaction,  and  is  not,  as  in  many  other  cases,  an 
irksome  duty  performed  for  the  preservation  of  bodily 
health. 


50 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


DESIGN  11. 

A  cottage  iw  the  English,  or  Rural  Gothic  Style. 

The  object  in  view  in  designing  this  cottage,  is  internal 
convenience.  There  are  many  families  mainly  composed 
of  invalids,  or  persons  advanced  in  years,  who  have  a 
strong  preference  for  a  plan  in  which  the  kitchen,  and  at 
least  one  bedroom,  are  upon  the  same  floor  with  the 
living  rooms,  and  in  which  there  is  little  or  no  necessity 
for  ascending  or  descending  stairs ;  an  exercise  which, 
though  of  little  consequence  to  the  young  and  robust,  is  of 
all  others  the  most  fatiguing  to  the  infirm,  or  those  in  deli- 
cate health. 

A  glance  at  the  plan  of  the  first  floor  opposite.  Fig.  10, 
will  show  how  we  propose  to  realize  this  kind  of  accom- 
modation in  this  dwelling.  The  kitchen  is  a  wing,  added 
in  the  rear,  of  one  story  in  height.  The  situation  on  which 
this  dwelhng  is  placed,  has  a  prospect  in  one  direction 
only,  and  the  front,  shown  in  the  elevation,  commands  this 
view,  the  rear  being  nearly  hidden  by  trees.  On  this  front 
are  situated  two  pleasant  apartments,  each  17  by  20  feet, 
opening  from  the  vestibule  or  entrance  hall,  by  large 
double  doors,  which,  when  fully  opened,  will  throw  these 
two  rooms  and  the  vestibule  into  one  large  apartment. 
Some  elegance  is  conferred  on  the  parlour  by  the  bay 
window,  after  the  old  English  mode,  projecting  on  the 


DESIGN  II. 

C0TTA(3-E  IN  THE  ENGLISH,  OR  RURAL  GOTHIC  STYLE 


Yi^i  10 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


51 


right  side,  which  is  balanced  by  a  double  window  opposite 
in  the  dining  room.  "We  would  recommend  the  employ- 
ment of  a  few  large  windows  in  the  principal  apartments, 
as  there  is  an  appearance  of  pettiness,  and  a  want  of 
breadth,  in  rooms  full  of  little  windows,  which  is  so  com- 
mon a  feature  in  our  country  houses.  It  is  always  pre- 
ferable, also,  to  light  a  room  from  two  sides  only,  rather 
than  three,  as  nothing  is  more  unfavorable  to  the  effect  of 
interiors,  than  cross  lights  proceeding  from  every  direction. 

The  living-room,  or  library,  commands  a  pantry  of  con- 
venient size,  in  the  rear  of  which  is  a  closet  opening  into 
the  hall.  This  hall  is  of  ample  size  to  serve  as  a  dining- 
room,  and  this  disposition  would  doubtless  be  preferred 
during  at  least  part  of  the  year,  as  it  would  leave  the 
apartment  on  the  left  to  be  devoted  entirely  to  a  library. 
To  make  an  entrance  hall  a  dining  apartment,  is  a  very 
objectionable,^  though  not  unusual  mode;  as  visitors, 
chancing  to  call  at  the  dinner  hour,  cannot  be  shown  into 
the  parlour  without  passing  the  table,  and  perhaps  discom- 
posing the  whole  family.  But  in  the  present  case,  the 
door  being  closed  between  the  entrance  or  vestibule,  and 
the  dining  hall,  the  table  a,  and  persons  seated  about  it, 
would  be  completely  private.  There  is  a  glazed  back 
door  opening  to  the  rear  of  the  house,  near  the  left  angle 
of  this  hall,  and  a  door  opening  into  the  kitchen  passage 
I,  on  the  right,  and  the  hall  also  receives  light  from  the 
window  over  this  door,  in  the  second  story.  This  passage 
is  formed  by  running  a  solid  partition  across  the  kitchen 
building,  so  as  to  admit  of  two  doors,  in  order  to  prevent 
smells  ;  one  an  ordinary  door  opening  into  the  hall,  and 
the  other  a  fly  or  spring-door,  opening  into  the  kitchen. 


52 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


This  partition  also  gives  room  for  the  introduction  of  two 
convenient  closets,  one  for  the  kitchen,  and  another  for  the 
bedroom. 

In  the  plan  of  the  second  floor,  Fig.  11,  we  have  two 


FLOOR 


[Fig.  11.] 


large  and  two  small  bedrooms.  There  is  a  dressing-room 
and  closet  communicating  with  the  small  bedroom  on  the 
left,  and  a  closet  for  linen  opening  into  the  hall.  The 
cellar  plan  is  not  given,  as  this  would  be  very  sim- 
ple, and  would  probably  not  be  required  larger  than  the 
main  building.  Access  would  be  had  to  it  by  steps  going  ^ 
down  under  the  stone  platform  of  the  stoop  on  which 
the  hall,  back  door  and  the  kitchen  door  open ;  and  by 
stairs  descending  under  the  ascending  staircase  in  the 
hall. 

The  elevation  of  this  cottage  is  in  the  English  cottage 
style,  so  generally  admired  for  the  picturesqueness  evinced 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


53 


in  its  tall  gables  ornamented  by  handsome  verge  boards 
and  finials,  its  neat  or  fanciful  chimney  tops,  its  latticed 
windows,  and  other  striking  features,  showing  how  the 
genius  of  pointed  or  Gothic  architecture  may  be  chastened 
or  moulded  into  forms  for  domestic  habitations.  The  steep 
roofs  are  highly  suitable  for  a  cold  country  liable  to  heavy 
snows.  A  very  pleasing  mode  of  covering  roofs  of  this 
kind  is  shown  in  the  elevation,  and  the  effect  is  produced 
by  procuring  the  shingles  of  equal  size,  and  cutting  the 
lower  ends,  before  laying  them  on,  in  a  semi-hexagon,  or 
semi-octagon  shape,  so  that  when  laid  upon  the  roof,  these 
figures  will  be  regularly  produced. 

The  English  cottage  style  will  admit  of  great  irregularity 
and  picturesqueness  of  outline,  and  is  productive  of  beau- 
tiful effects  when  the  composition  forms  a  large  group  of 
building.  In  the  present  example  we  have  only  been  able 
to  show  one  of  the  simplest  of  its  forms,  which,  however, 
is  not  destitute  of  expression  of  the  style.  In  the  Eng- 
lish examples,  a  veranda  is  rarely  seen,  as  the  dampness 
of  their  climate  renders  such  an  appendage  scarcely  ne- 
cessary. But  its  great  utility  in  our  hot  summers  makes 
it  indispensable  to  every  house,  and  we  have  introduced  it 
on  the  entrance  front,  as  affording  in  this  position,  shelter, 
prospect,  and  an  agreeable  promenade.  Over  the  porch  is  a 
pleasant  balcony  for  the  pointed  window  in  the  gable.  As 
the  spirit  of  Gothic  architecture  lies  in  verticalhnes,  along 
unbroken  horizontal  line  of  veranda  would  destroy,  or  mar 
the  architectural  character  of  the  cottage.  We  have,  there- 
fore, made  the  veranda  two  or  three  feet  shorter  at  each 
end  than  the  front,  and  have  further  broken  the  horizontal 


54 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


line  by  the  porch -balcony  to  the  window  in  the  front 
gable. 

One  of  the  most  characteristic  and  beautiful  features  in 
rural  Gothic  architecture  is  the  ornamental  chimney  shaft, 
sometimes  rising  singly,  sometimes  in  clusters,  from  the  roof; 
often  plain  and  square,  or  octagonal,  but  frequently  wreathed 
and  moulded  in  the  most  picturesque  manner.  The  finest 
specimens  of  the  old  English  chimneys  are  built  of  bricks, 
cast  in  moulds  for  the  purpose,  or  stamped  with  ornaments. 
These  bricks  are  now  so  highly  taxed  in  England  as  to 
render  them  as  expensive  as  cut  stone,  but  they  may  be 
made  very  cheaply  here.*  We  have  built  neat  chimney 
shafts  in  an  octagonal  form  of  common  bricks  by  cutting 
them  with  a  trowel  in  the  desired  form  and  rubbing  the 
faces  smooth  on  a  hard  sand-stone  before  laying  them,  but 
this  is  more  expensive  than  to  employ  bricks  ready  mould- 
ed for  the  purpose.  Chimney  tops  of  artificial  stone  in 
handsome  forms  may  also  be  had  of  Gibson,  and  other 
manufacturers,  New-York,  but  they  will  seldom  stand  our 
trying  climate  at  the  north. 

Construction,  This  cottage  should  be  built  of  brick-and- 
cement,  coloured  in  imitation  of  Bath  or  Portland  stone  ;  or 
of  smooth  brick,  coloured  after  some  of  the  soft  neutral 
tints  described  in  a  former  page ;  or  of  quarried  stone. 
The  window  frames,  the  porch  and  veranda,  and  the  verge 
board,  may  be  made  of  good  seasoned  w^ood,  painted  the 
same  colour  as  the  walls  and  sanded ;  or  they  may  be 

*  We  trust  that  by  the  time  this  volume  is  out  of  press,  some  of  our  brickmakers 
will  be  able  to  offer  moulded  bricks  of  a  variety  of  patterns,  as  the  demand  for  such 
is  every  day  increasing. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


55 


grained  in  imitation  of  oak.  Real  oak  would  be  pre- 
ferable where  econon^  is  not 
an  object.  The  label  or  drip 
stones  to  the  window  may  be 
made  of  moulded  brick,  or  cut 
free-stone  after  Fig.  25  of  the 
next  Design.  These  windows 
are  latticed  casement  windows, 
the  plan  and  section  of  which 
are  shown  in  Fig.  12.  [Fig.  12.] 


In  the  gable,  Fig.  13, 
the  roof  or  cornice  of  which 
should  project  at  least  20 
inches  over  the  wall,  is 
shown  a  specimen  of  fea- 
thered tracery  from  one 
of  the  best  examples,  with 
its  pinnacle  and  pendant. 
This  may  be  cut  out  of 
thick  pla  nk,*  and  if  thought 
too  elaborate,  may  be  sim- 
plified by  omitting  the  mi- 
nor details.  If  well  exe- 
cuted it  will  have  a  rich 


[Fig.  13.] 


effect. 

The  porch  and  veranda  is  shown  in  detail  in  Fig.  14 ; 
the  detached  portion  on  the  right  showing  a  part  of  the 
veranda  cornice,  and  that  on  the  left  a  portion  of  the  clus- 
tered column.  (The  sections  of  which  are  seen  at  the 
lower  ends  of  the  drawing.) 


*  Never  (as  is  sometimes  done  by  ignorant  carpenters)  out  of  inch  boards. 


56 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


[Fig.  14.] 


Fig.  15,  shows  a  pair  of  chimney  shafts 
in  the  old  EngUsh  style,  which  may  be  had 
in  artificial  stone,  at  Gibson's,  New- York. 
A  great  variety  of  forms  are  frequently 
collected  together  in  the  same  stack. 

The  shutters  should  be  inside  box  shut- 
ters, or  shutter-blinds,  painted  and  grained 
in  imitation  of  oak. 

Estimate.  The  cost  of  this  cottage  in 
brick-and-stucco  (bricks  at  S4)  would  be 
$4500. 


[Fig.  15.] 


LAYING  OUT  THE  GARDEN  OF  DESIGN  II. 


The  situation  where  it  is  proposed  to  build  this  cottage, 
is  about  a  mile  from  a  country  town,  and  the  area  of  sur- 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


57 


face  for  the  whole  purpose  is  about  an  acre  and  a  fourth. 
This  lot  of  ground  is  bounded  by  a  street  both  in  the 
front  and  rear.  The  entrance  is  at  a  ;  the  dwelling  at  h  ; 
the  stable  at  c.  One  half  of  the  whole  surface,  viz.,  that 
portion  represented  by  right  lined  plots,  in  the  rear  of  the 
house,  is  devoted  to  a  garden  for  fruits  and  vegetables, 
and  the  whole  remaining  portion,  comprising  the  space  in 
front  and  at  the  sides  of  the  house,  is  laid  out  as  a  lawn, 
shrubbery  and  flower  garden,  in  the  picturesque  manner. 
The  carriage  road,  leading  to  the  front  door  and  to  the 
stable,  is  shown  at  d;  e,  designates  irregular  beds  cut  in 
the  turf,  and  stocked  with  annuals  and  perennial  flowers ; 
y,  a  thick  shrubbery  belt,  composed  of  syringes,  mountain 
ashes  and  lilacs,  interspersed  with  the  balsam  fir,  and 
arbor  vitae,  to  give  a  cheerful  appearance  in  winter.  In 
the  rear  of  the  kitchen  are  planted  two  or  three  hemlocks 
and  larches.  Two  plots  of  grass,  for  bleaching  and  drying 
clothes,  are  shown  at  g. 

In  the  ornamental  garden  before  the  house,  the  whole 
surface,  excepting  the  walks,  and  the  flower  beds  e,  is  to 
be  laid  down  in  turf,  and  kept  neatly  mown.  This  turf 
will  give  an  appearance  of  much  greater  extent  to  the  area, 
than  it  could  possibly  have  by  any  other  arrangement, 
while  it  will  be  more  agreeable  to  the  eye  through  the 
whole  year,  than  any  extensive  disposition  of  parterre,  or 
flower  beds,  directly  under  the  eye.  A  fresh  verdant 
lawn,  varied  only  by  w^alks  and  green  trees,  is  a  delightful 
object  at  all  seasons,  and  more  especially  in  the  middle 
of  summer;  while  at  the  latter  period  flower  beds  have 
frequently  a  dry  and  parched  appearance,  but  poorly 

7 


58 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


[Fig.  16.] 


COTTAGE   RESIDENCES.  59 
I 

compensated  for  by  the  brilliancy  of  a  few  plants  in  bloom, 
which  scarcely  hide  the  surface. 

The  spiry  topped  trees  shown  in  these  plots,  are  chiefly 
the  European  Larch  and  the  Balsam  Fir,  with  one  or  two 
White  Pines,  all  of  which  harmonise  well  with  the  archi- 
tecture of  the  cottage.  Among  tlfe  round-headed  trees 
we  will  only  particularize  the  Osage  Orange,  {Madura  au- 
rantiaca,)  the  Umbrella  Magnolia,  {M,  triyetala^)  the 
Weeping  Ash,  {Fraxinus  excelsior,  yendula,)  and  the  Ken- 
tucky Coffee,  (Gymnocladus  Canadensis.)  Among  the 
shrubs  forming  little  thickets  along  the  walks,  we  would 
introduce  the  Mezereon  and  the  Cornelian  Cherry,  the 
pink  and  yellow  flowers  of  which  appear  in  March ;  the 
scarlet  and  blush  Japan  Quince,  (Cijdonia  Jaijonica  ;)  the 
pink  and  double  white  Hawthorns  ;  and  the  purple  and 
white  fruited  Strawberry  Trees,  (Enomjmus  europeus,) 

The  walks  should  all  be  well  gravelled ;  the  carriage 
road  being  first  excavated  twelve  inches  deep,  and  one 
half  the  depth  on  the  bottom  filled  with  small  stones,  in 
order  to  have  it  dry  and  firm  at  all  seasons. 

In  the  kitchen  garden,  the  borders  on  the  sides  of  the 
central  walk  A,  are  occupied  by  two  rows  of  currants  and 
gooseberries.  The  currants  are  the  Large  White  and  Red 
Dutch,  and  the  Naples,  or  Black  English.  The  goose- 
berries are  half  a  dozen  of  the  best  English  sorts.  Both 
currants  and  gooseberries  must  be  kept  well  trimmed  and 
thinned,  to  admit  the  air  freely  to  every  part  of  the  plant, 
and  the  borders  should  be  annually  manured,  as  they  require 
a  rich  soil  to  produce  large  fruit.  On  one  side  of  the  cross 
walk  i,  is  a  border  devoted  to  raspberries,  and  planted 


60  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 

with  the  large  Red  Antwerp,  and  the  White  Antwerp,  in 
equal  quantities. 

Within  the  boundary  fence  of  that  half  of  the  area  com- 
prising the  kitchen  garden,  is  a  border,  fourteen  feet  wide  on 
the  sides,  and  twice  that  width  on  the  rear,  devoted  to  a 
small  number  of  choicte  fruits.  The  walk 7,  is  covered  by 
an  arbor  for  grapes,  and  may  contain,  besides  the  native 
sorts,  Catawba,  Isabella,  etc,  a  few  vines  of  the  Royal 
Muscadine,  Sweet  Water,  and  Black  Hamburgh,  which 
are  among  the  hardiest  and  most  productive  of  the  foreign 
varieties.  Nearly  all  the  foreign  grapes  require  much  care 
to  be  raised  in  the  open  air.  For  a  year  or  two  after  they 
come  into  bearing,  the  crops,  it  is  generally  remarked,  are 
good,  and  the  fruit  fair ;  but  in  a  few  seasons  more,  the 
mildew  attacks  the  fruit,  and  frequently  destroys  every 
bunch,  or  renders  it  worthless.  The  most  successful 
practice  for  out-of-door  culture,  appears  to  consist  in  lay- 
ing down  some  of  the  long  thrifty  shoots  each  season,  so 
as  to  have  every  year,  or  every  other  year,  a  succession 
of  new  roots — destroying  those  that  have  borne  two  good 
crops,  and  allowing  the  young  rooted  plants  to  take  their 
place.  Lime  and  marl  are  excellent  manures  for  the 
grape. 


DESIGN  III, 

A  COTTAGE  IN  THE  POINTED,  OR  TUDOR  .STYLE 


Fig. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


61 


DESIGN  III. 

A  cottage  in  the  Pointed,  or  Tudor  Style. 

This  edifice  is  designed  for  a  situation  on  the  bank  of 
one  of  our  boldest  rivers.  From  its  site,  the  eye  wanders 
over  a  richly  cultivated  country,  dotted  and  sprinkled  v^ith 
luxuriant  groups  of  wood ;  the  wide  lake-like  expanse  of 
water,  the  sails  floating  lazily  on  its  bosom,  the  tufted 
fringes  of  trees  and  shrubs  in  the  foreground,  and  the  dis- 
tant hazy  summits  of  blue  in  the  horizon,  are  all  fascinating 
elements  of  the  beautiful,  which  make  up  the  view  from 
the  point  of  its  location.  As  in  many  of  our  finest  natural 
situations  for  residences,  nature  has  done  so  much  here  to 
render  the  scene  lovely,  that  it  would  appear  that  man 
had  only  to  borrow  a  few  hints  from  the  genius  of  the 
place,  and  the  home  features  would  all  be  rendered 
equally  delightful.  But  how  frequently  do  we  see  those 
who  seem  incapable  of  reading  the  wide  and  ever  elo- 
quent book  of  natural  beauty,  deforming  its  fair  pages, 
written  in  lines  of  grace  and  softness,  by  rigid  lines,  and 
hard  mathematical  angles,  only  too  plainly  indicative  of 
the  most  primitive  and  uncultivated  perceptions.  Let 
us  hope,  by  studying  the  character  of  the  whole  scene,  to 
succeed  better  in  improving  a  very  small  portion  of  it. 

The  arrangement  of  the  cottage  we  propose  for  this 
place,  differs  from  the  previous  ones,  in  having  the  princi- 


62 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


pal  floor  devoted  almost  entirely  to  pleasant  apartments  ; 
the  kitchen  being  below,  and  the  bedrooms  above  stairs. 
This  renders  the  whole  air  of  the  house  somewhat  elegant. 
A  cottage  like  this,  although  of  moderate  size,  in  the  hands 
of  a  family  of  taste,  may  be  made  to  produce  a  beautiful 
effect.    While,  it  is  true,  that 

*'  Here  no  state  chambers  in  long  line  unfold, 
Bright  with  broad  mirrors,  rough  with  fretted  gold, 
Yet,  modest  ornament  with  use  combined, 
Attracts  the  eye  to  exercise  the  mind." 

And  while  there  arc  no  superfluous  and  luxurious  apart- 
ments, nor  any  thing  requiring  the  attendance  of  a  retinue 
of  servants,  there  is  much  here,  compactly  arranged,  to 
render  a  home  pleasant  and  attractive.  The  neat  and 
spacious  parlour,  18  by  20  feet,  (see  Fig.  IS,)  is  varied  in 
its  outline  by  an  old  English  bay-window,  one  of  those 
pleasant  nooks,  which,  says  Lord  Bacon,  "  be  pretty  re- 
tiring places  for  conference,"  and  has  also  windows  opening 
quite  to  the  floor  of  the  veranda,  and  letting  in  a  full  expanse 
of  the  bright  green  lawn,  and  tufts  of  rich  foliage  that  border 
it.  This  room  would  afford  some  scope  for  the  "  faire  ladye" 
to  exercise  her  taste  in  a  simple,  elegant,  and  harmonious 
style  of  fitting  and  furnishing  ;  not  by  bringing  from  the 
shops  the  latest  and  most  fashionable  patterns  of  city 
chairs  and  tables,  carpets  and  sofas, — which,  we  are  sorry 
to  say,  are  in  most  cases  destitute  of  all  appropriateness, 
and  in  many,  of  all  intrinsic  grace  and  beauty, — but  by 
selecting  articles  recommended  by  fitness  in  design,  in 
order  that  they  may  be  in  harmony  with  the  character  of 
the  house,  and  by  their  tasteful  and  comfortable  character, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


63 


that  they  may  suit  the  more  simple  and  unostentatious 
habits  of  country  hfe. 

The  dining-room  is  of  equal  size  with  the  drawing- 
room,  and  as  the  family  who  are  to  occupy  this  cottage 
villa,  live  in  a  pleasant  and  social  neighborhood,  and  are 
in  the  habit,  occasionally,  of  entertaining  a  little  party  of 
their  friends,  they  thought  it  desirable  to  make  these  rooms 
communicate  by  sliding  doors,  in  order  that  they  may,  on 
such  occasions,  be  thrown  into  one.  The  rooms  will  then 
have  a  handsome  effect,  as  the  bay  window  at  the  end  of 
the  parlour  is  balanced  by  a  wide  mullioned  window  at 
the  end  of  the  dining-room  opposite,  and  the  whole  space 
between  them  is  forty  feet.  For  the  convenience  of  the 
menage^  we  have  located  a  neat  pantry  directly  in  contact 
with  the  dining-room,  and  opening  out  of  it,  so  that  the 
china  and  plate,  or  the  little  delicacies  of  the  larder,  may 
be  under  the  eye,  or,  what  is  better,  under  the  lock  and 
key  of  the  mistress.  As  the  kitchen  is  below  stairs,  in  the 
ordinary  mode  the  dishes  will  require  to  be  brought  up 
the  stairs  and  across  the  staircase  entry  to  reach  the 
table.  This  is  somewhat  objectionable,  inasmuch  as  a  hot 
dinner  is  likely  to  become  cooled  in  this  long  state  of 
transition,  the  china  is  liable  to  become  broken  by  an 
occasional  misstep,  and  the  privacy  of  the  hall  is  unneces- 
sarily intruded  upon,  by  the  repeated  coming  and  going 
of  the  domestics,  arranging  the  dinner.  We  shall  en- 
deavor to  remedy  these  difficulties,  by  placing  in  the  Htde 
space  on  the  right  hand  of  the  door  opening  from  the 
dining-room  to  the  pantry,  what  is  called  a  rising  cujiboard 
or  dumb  waiter,  which  will  be  found  a  more  careful,  more 
obedient,  and  more  unobtrusive  "  help,"  than  any  other 


64  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 

in  the  house.  The  actual  size  of  this  cupboard  need  not 
be  more  than  20  inches  by  3^-  or  4  feet,  which  will  just 
occupy  the  space  in  the  pantry  that  is  of  little  value  for 
any  other  purpose.  Or,  if  it  should  be  thought  desirable 
to  have  it  a  little  wider,  the  width  may  be  increased  by 
making  a  small  recess  in  the  wall  of  the  house.  Fig. 


19  shows  the  manner  in 
which  the  pantry  may  be 
finished  ;  the  pantry  be- 


[fig.  19]  ing  on  the    right  side, 

and  the  dumb  waiter,  (D  W)  on  the  left ;  the  cupboard 
rising  in  the  pantry  to  the  height  of  three  feet,  and  de- 
scending through  the  floor  to  the  closet  in  the  kitchen. 
The  mode  of  constructing  this  is  shown  in  the  details  of 
this  design,  Fig.  28. 

It  will  seen  on  examining  the  plan  of  the  principal 
floor,  that  by  placing  the  stairs  in  a  separate  passage  com- 
municating with  the  principal  hall,  this  hall  is  left  free  and 
unincumbered,  and  is  in  fact  a  pretty  little  ante-room,  12 
by  16  feet.  This  is  doubly  advantageous,  as  the  servants 
are  enabled  to  go  from  the  basement  to  the  chamber  story 
without  passing  through  the  principal  hall ;  thus  making 
this  single  staircase  to  serve  the  purposes,  in  a  great 
measure,  of  the  two  frequently  seen  in  villas,  viz.,  the 
stairs  in  the  hall  used  by  the  family,  and  the  private  stairs 
chiefly  used  by  the  domestics.  From  this  passage  also 
there  is  a  private,  or  side  entrance  to  the  house,  by  an 
outer  door.  The  hall  is  lighted  by  two  small  windows  in 
the  sides  and  by  the  semi-glazed  door  as  shown  in  the 
perspective  elevation. 

We  have  as  yet  said  nothing  of  the  neat  little  library  on 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


65 


the  right  of  the  hall  twelve  by  fourteen  feet  in  its  dimen- 
sions, where 

"  Selected  shelves  shall  claim  our  studious  hours." 

But  there  is  no  portion  of  the  house  which,  to  a  man  fond 
of  those  most  cheerful  and  never  tiresome  companions,  good 
books,  is  more  peculiarly  the  sanctum,  or  "own  room,"  than 
the  library,  whether  it  be  small  or  large.  This,  though 
small,  is  sufficiently  ample  to  contain  all  the  best  hooks  ever 
written ;  large  enough  for  a  comfortable  ruddy  fire  in  a 
damp  or  cold  wintry  day,  and  for  an  ample  library  round- 
table  furnished  with  the  necessary  materials  for  writing 
and  correspondence  of  all  kinds.  The  gentleman  who  is 
to  occupy  this  cottage  has,  besides  the  few  acres  on  which 
this  residence  is  erected,  a  farm  where  he  practises  agri- 
culture in  an  amateur  manner,  and  on  his  library  shelves 
ma}^  therefore  be  found  a  few  choice  works  on  rural  econo- 
my, such  as  Loudon's  Encyclopedias,  Low's  Practical 
Agriculture,  Johnson's  Agricultural  Chemistry,  and  a  num- 
ber of  others  of  similar  character,  and  on  the  table  lie  the 
last  numbers  of  our  most  valuable  and  interesting  agricul- 
tural periodicals.  The  library  being  fitted  up  in  a  plain 
and  simple  manner,  answers  admirably  also  as  an  office, 
into  which  persons  who  call  to  see  the  master  of  the  house 
on  business  are  readily  shown  from  the  hall,  without  dis- 
turbing the  family  who  are  occupying  the  dining-room,  or 
parlour. 

The  veranda,  or  umbrage,  which  is  entered  by  windows 
opening  to  the  floor  of  the  two  principal  apartments,  is  a 
cool  and  shady  place  for  promenade,  and,  we  need  hardly 

8 


66  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 

repeat,  commands  the  most  delightful  views,  as  this  is  the 
river  front  of  the  house. 

In  the  plan  of  the  second  floor,  which  is  before  us,  are 
accommodations  for  the  family  and  their  guests,  Fig.  20, 


[Fig.  20.] 


consisting  of  four  excellent  sleeping  apartments,  each  with 
a  small  closet  attached.  Two  of  these  are  of  ample  size, 
and  as  it  might  be  desirable  to  many  to  have  in  them  a 
greater  amount  of  closet  room,  it  may  be  easily  obtained 
by  making  a  double  partition  between  these  apartments, 
which  would  allow  of  two  large  closets  in  the  space  thus 
formed.  The  bedroom,  12  by  12  feet,  over  the  hall,  is  a 
pretty  lodging  apartment  opening  through  a  picturesque 
old  English  oriel  window  on  a  balcony.  The  staircase 
shown  in  this  plan  gives  access  to  the  attic,  where  two 
servants  bedrooms  are  located. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


67 


The  basement  accommodation,  Fig.  21,  shows  an  en- 
trance into  the  staircase  passage  by  a  descent  of  steps  :  a 


[Fig.  21.] 

kitchen,  and  cellar  of  good  dimensions,  a  servant's  sleeping 
room,  (which  may  be  made  a  laundry  if  preferred,)  and  a 
small  store-room  and  wine  cellar  conveniently  located. 

The  exterior  of  this  dwelling  is  designed  after  the  old 
English  architecture  of  the  Tudor  era,  a  style  replete  with 
interesting  associations,  as  it  is  the  genuine  and  most 
characteristic  mode  of  building  long  ago  prevalent  in  the 
finest  country-houses  of  England,  associated  by  lay  and 
legend  ten  times  told,"  with  all  that  is  brightest  and  noblest 
in  the  history  of  our  mother  country.  It  is  highly  pictu- 
resque, abounding  in  the  finer  specimens  with  a.rich  variety 
of  gables,  turrets,  buttresses,  towers,  and  ornamental  chim- 
ney-shafts, which  form  striking  and  spirited  objects  in  do- 
mestic architecture,  and  harmonise  agreeably  with  the  hills 
and  tree  tops,  and  all  the  intricacy  of  outline  in  natural  ob- 


68 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


jects.  And  finally  the  irregularity  of  its  outlines,  admit- 
ting future  additions  with  facility,  the  substantial  and  per- 
manent expression  of  its  exterior,  and  the  beauty  and 
comfort  indicated  in  the  richness,  variety  and  size  of  its 
windows,  all  point  out  the  old  English  style,  in  its  various 
modifications,  as  admirably  adapted,  by  beauty  and  fit- 
ness for  domestic  purposes  in  a  cold  cUmate. 

This  cottage  being  of  very  moderate  size,  neither  de- 
mands nor  would  with  propriety  admit  a  profusion  of  or- 
nament, and  we  have  indeed,  for  the  sake  of  economy, 
made  it  assume  a  character  and  a  degree  of  decoration 
comparatively  simple,  still,  however,  preserving  a  very 
marked  and  distinct  expression  of  the  style.  If  we  analyze 
its  leading  features,  we  shall  find  that  character  is  conferred 
chiefly  by  the  windows  and  the  chimney  tops,  the  two 
most  essential  and  characterestic  features  of  dwelling- 
houses  as  contrasted  with  buildings  for  any  other  pur- 
poses ;  and  to  which,  as  such,  decoration  should  always 
be  first  applied  rather  than  to  any  less  essential  or  super- 
added features  ;  for  example,  to  columns  or  a  colonnade. 
Chimney  tops,  since  we  cannot  dispense  with  them,  should 
always  be  rendered  ornamental,  both  strongly  expressive 
of  comfort,  no  house  being  tolerable  in  a  cold  climate 
without  fires,  and  on  account  of  their  occupying  the 
highest  part  of  the  building,  and  therefore  are  most  likely 
to  strike  the  eye  agreeably  if  appropriate,  or  offend  it  if 
ugly  and  unshapely  in  form.  We  have  shown  in  this  de- 
sign one  of  the  simplest  forms  of  old  English  chimneys, 
many  of  which  are  extremely  beautiful.* 

*  By  an  error  in  the  engraving,  the  hase  of  each  stack  of  chimneys  in  the  elevation 
of  this  design  is  made  to  appear  too  low ;  a  more  correct  proportion  is  shown  in  the 
details,  Fig.  15. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


69 


An  edifice  in  this  style  should  be  built  of  none  but  the  most 
solid  materials.  Stone  would  be  the  most  appropriate,  as 
it  has  a  substantial  and  durable  character  in  keeping  with 
the  style,  and  next  to  this,  brick,  or  brick  covered  with  the 
best  cement,  would  be  most  suitable.  To  erect  a  dwelling 
in  this  style  of  so  light  and  frail  a  material  as  wood,  under 
any  circumstances,  would  be  a  complete  violation  of  good 
taste,  as  there  would  be  an  entire  discordance  or  incon- 
gruity between  the  style  adopted  and  the  material  em- 
ployed. Where  wood  is  the  only  material  within  our 
reach,  some  lighter  and  more  suitable  style  should  be 
adopted,  and  the  result  will  then  undoubtedly  be  more 
satisfactory. 

A  solecism  in  taste  which  we  have  several  times  wit- 
nessed with  pain  in  this  country,  and  which  we  will  there- 
fore caution  our  readers  and  the  occupant  of  this  cottage 
against,  is  the  introduction  green  blinds,  or  Venetian  shut- 
ters, upon  a  building  in  the  pointed,  or  the  English  cottage 
style.  This  kind  of  shutter,  applied  to  the  outside  of  build- 
ings, belongs  properly  to  the  Venetian,  Tuscan,  or  Italian 
villas,  where  the  architecture  is  lighter  arjd  more  fanciful, 
and  the  windows  are  frequently  mere  openings  for  the  cir- 
culation of  air ;  but  to  cover  a  handsome  or  quaint  old 
English  window,  enriched  by  decorative  mullions  and  win- 
dow-heads, with  an  outside  shutter  belonging  to  a  totally 
different  style  of  building,  and  painted  a  bright  green,  is 
as  revolting  to  a  mind  imbued  with  correct  principles  of 
taste,  as  to  cover  the  venerable  head  of  a  staid  gentleman 
of  the  old  school  with  the  flaunting  head-dress  of  an 
Italian  peasant  girl.  Outside  shutters  of  any  description 
are  scarcely  admissible  in  this  style  of  architecture,  as  they 
conceal  one  of  the  chief  sources  of  interest  in  the  exterior. 


70 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


But  as  the  walls  are  thick,  inside  shutters,  or  even  inside 
blinds,  are  easily  introduced.  The  latter  may  be  made  to 
fold  into  window  casings  like  ordinary  box  shutters,  where 
they  will  serve  the  purposes  of  both  shutters  and  blinds  : 
and  will  be  found  more  convenient  and  more  appropriate 
than  outside  blinds,  without  violating  correct  principles  of 
art. 

The  interior  of  this  cottage  may  be  finished  in  a  very 
simple  manner.  But  the  effect  will  be  far  more  consistent 
and  satisfactory,  if  some  attention  is  paid  to  keeping  up 
the  pointed,  or  old  English  character,  in  the  finish  of  at 
least  the  principal  apartments.  This  may  be  done  with- 
out incurring  any  extra  expense,  merely  by  employing 
Gothic,  or  pointed  mouldings  and  details  in  the  trimmings 
of  the  doors  and  windows,  the  forms  of  the  cornices  and 
chimney  pieces.  As  there  are  now  numerous  examples 
of  this  style  of  dwelling  in  the  middle  states,  there  will 
be  little  or  no  diflBculty  in  procuring  the  necessary  forms 
of  designs,  moulds,  and  planes,  for  a  cottage  of  this  kind. 
A  person  whose  taste  is  sufficiently  cultivated  to  induce 
him  to  desire  such  a  dwelling  as  this,  will  naturally  inform 
himself  of  the  actual  eflfect,  both  as  regards  the  interior 
and  exterior  finish,  by  inspection  of  the  best  example  of 
the  style  within  his  reach ;  or,  for  a  small  sum,  he  may 
obtain  from  an  architect  the  working  drawings  necessary 
for  the  complete  execution  of  the  whole,  by  the  builders 
employed,  in  the  most  correct  manner. 

A  harmonious  and  pleasing  effect  is  produced  in  houses 
in  the  old  Enghsh  style,  by  painting  and  graining  the 
wood-work  in  imitation  of  oak  or  black  walnut.  This  is 
partly  owing,  no  doubt,  to  the  allusion  thus  awakened  in 
the  mind,  to  the  "  old  oaken  wainscots,"  always  so  cha- 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


71 


racteristic  a  feature  in  the  antique  houses  in  this  style,  but 
partly,  also,  to  the  mellow  an^  furnished  look  which  the 
warm  and  dark  tone  of  the  wood  gives  to  the  apartments. 
In  an  economical  point  of  view,  it  has  also  the  great 
recommendation  of  being  kept  clean  and  bright,  with  one 
twentieth  part  of  the  labor  expended  in  maintaining  wood- 
work, painted  in  white,  in  its  original  purity. 

Details.  In  the  construction  of  a  cottage  in  the  pointed 
style,  attention  should  be  paid  to  an  unity  of  design  in  all 
parts  of  the  building.  One  of  the  most  essential  principles 
in  this  style,  is  the  recognition  of  the  arch,  in  some  man- 
ner, in  all  the  principal  openings.  In  public  buildings, 
all  windows  and  doors  terminate  upward  in  the  pointed 
arch  ;  in  domestic  architecture  this  would  often  be  incon- 
venient, as  in  the  case  of  windows  in  apartments  on  the 
first  floor,  where  inside  shutters  are  required.  The  win- 
dows are  generally  therefore  square-headed,  but  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  arch  appears  in  the  moulded  window  tracery. 

In  Fig.  22  is  shown  a  small  portion  of  the  veranda  on 
the  river  front,  with  its  appropriate  columns,  and  the  arch- 
way between. 


72 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


A  portion  of  the  balcony  to  the  oriel  window  is  shown 
in  Fig.  23.     In  Fig.  24,  is  shown  one  of  the  dormer 


[Fig.  25.] 


[Fig.  23.]  [Fig.  24.] 

windows  of  the  front  elevation.  For  the  section  and  plan 
of  the  lower  windows,  see  Fig.  12,  of  Design  I. 

The  section  or  profile  of  the  label,  or  lintel 
of  the  window,  is  shown  in  Fig.  25  ;  and 
that  of  the  wall-coping  in  Fig.  26 ;  both  to 
the  scale  of  half  an  inch  to  a  foot. 

4  stack  of  chimneys  suitable  for  this  cot- 
tage, is  shown  in  Fig.  27,  which  may  be 
built  of  brick ;  the  chimney  tops  being 
8  feet  high,  above  the  base  or  square 
platform.  The  flues  may  be  square  or 
circular  within,  (the  latter  is  preferable,) 
and  ten  or  twelve  inches  in  diameter. 
Circular  flues  are  easily  formed  by  build- 
ing round  a  cylinder  of  tin,  which  is 
worked  upwards  by  turning  it  with  the 
hand  as  the  chimney  is  carried  up.  The 

]Fig.  27.] 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


73 


[Fig.  26.] 


interior  of  the  flue  next  the  cylinder  is  covered 
with  mortar  in  building,  and  the  gradual 
withdrawal  of  the  cylinder  upwards,  leaves 
a  smooth  plastered  surface. 

A  section  showing  the  construction  of  the 
rising  cupboard,  or  dumb  waiter,  is  shown  in  Fig.  28. 
In  this  section,  the  floor  of  the  pantry  is  indicated  at /,  the 
portion  above  being  enclosed  in  a  sort  of  sideboard  or 
closet  in  the  pantry,  and  the  part  below  in  a  similar  closet 
in  the  basement.  At  a,  is  the  cupboard  with  three  shelves. 
This  cupboard,  and  the  dishes  it  will  contain,  is  bal- 
anced by  the  weight  c,  at  the  end  of  a  rope,  passing  over 
the  pulleys  6,  which  is  attached  to  the  top  of  the  cupboard. 

This,  with  a  slight  impetus,  sends 
the  loaded  cupboard  up  to  the  top  ; 
it  is  drawn  down  by  a  small  wheel 
and  crank,  c?,  with  a  similar  cord 
or  leathern  strap,  attached  to  the 
bottom  of  the  cupboard.  This 
wheel  and  crank  is  fixed  firmly  at 
the  bottom  of  the  trunk  in  which 
the  cupboard  moves,  and  about  a 
foot  and  a  half  above  the  floor  of 
the  kitchen.  The  top  of  the  trunk, 
or  that  part  above  the  floor  /,  is 
disguised,  and  rendered  ornamental,  by  the  neat  side- 
board or  closet  covering  it,  which  opens  in  front  to  allow 
the  dishes  to  be  taken  out. 

Estimate,  If  this  cottage  is  built  of  brick  and  stucco, 
with  cut  stone  labels  to  the  windows,  and  finished  in  a 
consistent  and  appropriate,  though  simple  manner  in  the 

9 


[Fig.  28.] 


74 


.COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


interior,  it  will  cost  about  S3500.  Built  of  quarried  stone, 
where  the  latter  is  not  abundant,  it  would  probably  cost 
$3800. 

THE  GROUNDS  OF  DESIGN  III. 


The  situation  of  the  ground,  four  acres  in  extent,  upon 
which  this  dwelling  is  to  be  erected,  we  have  already  partly 
described.  It  is  nearly  a  parallelogram,  one  end  of  which 
borders  the  public  road  and  the  other  is  bounded  by  the 
river.  In  its  original  state,  before  operations  were  com- 
menced, the  place  appeared  only  a  simple  meadow,  the 
land  of  fair  quality,  and  the  surface  level,  or  nearly  so,  be- 
tween the  road  and  the  site  of  the  house,  but  sloping  off  to 
the  river,  in  some  parts  gently,  and  in  others  more  abrupt- 
ly, about  100  feet  beyond  the  veranda  on  the  river  side  of 
the  house,  at  A,  Fig.  29.  The  best  soil  for  a  garden  ap- 
peared to  be  on  the  left  of  the  property,  and  we  accord- 
ingly located  the  kitchen  garden  /,  and  the  orchard  of 
choice  fruits  g,  in  this  quarter. 

As  it  was  not  thought  desirable  by  the  owner  of  this 
place  to  expend  much  in  keeping  the  place  in  order,  be- 
yond what  labour  might  be  required  in  the  kitchen  garden, 
few  walks  are  introduced,  except  such  as  are  actually  ne- 
cessary or  convenient.  Of  these  the  most  essential  in 
every  place  is  the  entrance  road,  or  Approach  b,  which 
leaves  the  public  road  in  this  example  at  a,  that  point  be- 
ing indicated  as  most  suitable  by  the  situation  of  the 
ground,  and  by  the  shelter  and  effect  which  will  be  given 
to  the  entrance  gate  by  two  or  three  large  trees  found  grow- 
ing there.    There  is  a  gravelled  area  in  front  of  the  house, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


75 


[Fig.  29.] 


upon  which  carriages  may  turn,  and  at  the  extremity  of 
this  road  are  the  stable  d,  and  stable  yard  e.  Next  to  the 
Approach,  the  most  desirable  walk  is  one  for  exercise, 
leading  over  more  secluded  parts  of  the  place,  or  to  spots 
enjoying  beautiful  or  extensive  prospects.    In  a  place  of 


76 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


small  extent,  it  is  desirable  to  have  this  walk  as  long  as 
possible,  which  is  generally  effected  by  making  the  circuit 
of  the  space  offered,  keeping  at  such  a  distance  from  boun- 
dary fences  that  they  may  not  be  obtrusive.  Such  a  walk 
is.  shown  at  z,  which  leaving  the  veranda,  on  the  river  front 
of  the  house,  proceeds  in  easy  curves,  shaded  by  occasional- 
groups  of  trees,  over  the  whole  area  between  the  house 
and  the  river. 

On  the  right  of  the  house,  looked  out  upon  from  the  bay 
wdndow  of  the  parlour,  is  a  small  area  of  smooth  turf,  sur- 
rounded by  the  walk  Tc,  and  containing  some  irregular  beds 
and  circles,  cut  in  the  turf,  devoted  to  choice  flowers.  At 
Z,  on  the  left,  is  a  corresponding  walk,  serving  the  purpose 
of  connecting  the  two  principal  walks,  which  is  thickly 
bordered  with  ornamental  shrubbery.  With  the  exception 
of  a  few  vines  on  the  veranda,  and  shrubs  near  the  house, 
these  two  small  walks,  with  their  accompaniments  of 
flowers  and  shrubs,  comprise  all  the  ornamental  details  of 
the  place  requiring  much  care.  All  that  portion  of  the 
grounds  between  the  public  road  and  the  line  A,  is  in  lawn 
or  grass,  and  is  kept  short  by  repeated  mowings  during 
summer.  At  A,  is  a  slight  paling  fence  rendered  incon- 
spicuous by  painting  it  dark  green.  This  fence  follows 
the  lower  line  of  the  ridge,  and  from  the  house  is  not  visi- 
ble, on  account  of  the  slope  of  the  ground  just  above  that 
line ;  the  fence  being  six  or  eight  feet  below  the  level  of 
the  platform  on  which  the  house  stands.  The  area  em- 
braced between  this  fence  and  the  river  is  also  in  grass, 
but  which  here,  however,  is  kept  short  by  the  pasturage  of 
a  cow,  or  a  few  sheep. 

Instead  of  this  fence  of  pales  a  sunTc  fence  or  ha-ha,  might 


COTTAaE  RESIDENCES. 


77 


be  preferred,  and  where  stone  is  abundant  it  would  not  be 
more  expensive.  The  construction  of  such  a  fence  will  be 
easily  understood  by  referring  to  the  accompanying  sec- 
tion, Fig.  30,  in  which  a  is  the  level  of  the  ground,  falling 


[Fig.  30.] 

off  gradually  at  where  a  wall  3^  feet  deep,  open  on  the 
side  facing  the  declining  surface,  would  form  an  effectual 
protection  against  cattle  on  the  lower  side.  It  is  evident 
from  the  section  shown  here,  that,  to  a  person  standing  at 
«,  the  fence  and  depressed  surface  at  its  bottom  not  being 
seen,  there  would  be  no  apparent  barrier  or  interruption 
to  the  view  across  the  whole  space  to  the  river.  Such  a 
fence,  it  should  be  remarked,  must,  as  in  the  present  case, 
run  across  the  surface  to  be  looked  over,  and  not  in  any  di- 
rection parallel  to  the  line  of  vision.  In  commencing  the 
description  of  this  place,  it  was  remarked  that  the  few  fine 
trees  already  growing  on  it  gave  it  a  considerable  degree  of 
character.  The  majority  of  these  were  oaks  and  chestnuts 
of  good  size,  and  as  the  expression  of  dignity  and  pictu- 
resqueness  inherent  in  these  trees  is  in  excellent  keeping 
with  the  style  of  this  dwelling,  it  will  be  advisable  to  main- 
tain this  character  by  planting  chiefly  round-headed  trees, 
rather  than  drooping  trees  like  the  elm,  which  are  mainly 
expressive  of  gracefulness.  Near  the  house,  a  few  Larches, 


78 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


and  Hemlocks  are  also  introduced,  as  the  spirited  forms 
of  these  trees,  contrasted  with  the  round-headed  ones,  will 
idd  to  the  picturesque  character  of  the  architecture. 

At  the  end  of  this  section  we  shall  give  a  list  of  the 
finest  ornamental  trees  classed  according  to  height  and 
other  qualities,  and  another  of  shrubs,  from  which  selec- 
tions may  be  made  for  planting  this  and  other  designs. 
We  shall,  in  relation  to  these,  only  remark  at  present  that, 
in  order  to  insure  a  rapid  and  vigorous  growth  to  these 
trees,  the  holes,  previously  to  planting  them,  should  be 
thoroughly  prepared  by  throwing  out  the  soil  two  feet  in 
depth,  and  from  three  to  six  feet  in  diameter,  and  mixing  it 
intimately  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  compost  or  well  rotted 
manure,  before  returning  it  to  the  holes  in  planting.  When 
a  tree  is  planted  in  the  ordinary  manner  without  prepa- 
ration, from  the  poverty  of  the  soil,  and  the  closeness  of 
those  portions  of  it  adjacent  to  the  roots  of  the  newly 
moved  tree,  it  requires  a  year  or  two  to  recover  from  the 
removal,  and  advances  afterward  in  its  growth  only  in  a 
feeble  and  tardy  manner.  On  the  other  hand,  where  the 
holes  are  carefully  prepared,  the  soil  furnished  with  a  plen- 
tiful supply  of  nutriment,  and  rendered  loose*  and  easily 
permeable  by  the  light  and  air,  as  well  as  by  the  roots, 
the  newly  transplanted  tree  soon  establishes  itself,  and 
makes  rapid  and  luxuriant  shoots.  In  many  soils  it  will 
be  found  that  this  previous  preparation  will  insure  a 
growth  more  than  four  times  as  vigorous  as  that  resulting 
from  the  usual  hasty  and  careless  mode  of  planting  without 
preparation;  and  it  is  therefore  better  policy,  where  effect 
is  speedily  desired,  to  plant  a  few  trees  in  the  best  man- 
ner, than  a  great  number  in  the  ordinary  careless  mode. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


79 


Another  very  erroneous  practice,  of  frequent  occurrence 
with  planters  of  little  experience,  in  the  United  States, 
consists  in  planting  the  tree  too  deep.  This  is  not  only  to 
the  eye  contrary  to  nature,  and  in  violation  therefore  of 
correct  taste,  but  it  is  destructive  to  the  health  of  the  tree, 
by  placing  the  mass  of  young  roots  below  the  genial  in- 
fluence of  the  atmosphere.  Treated  in  this  manner,  trees 
will  frequently  struggle  against  the  adverse  situation  for 
years,  without  ever  attaining  any  considerable  degree  of 
luxuriance. 

If  we  observe  a  tree  growing  in  a  natural  state  after  it 
has  attained  some  size,  we  must  at  once  remark,  that  the 
base  of  the  trunk,  or  that  part  nearest  the  ground,  is  much 
larger  than  the  same  trunk  a  few  inches  above ;  and  that 
in  consequence  of  the  development  of  roots  just  below 
this  point,  the  tree  apj>ears  to  stand  on  a  base  sl  little  ele- 
vated above  the  level  of  the  ground  about  it.  This  gives 
it  an  appearance  of  strength  and  dignity,  and  connects 
it,  by  a  natural  transition,  with  the  surface  around  it.  Now 
a  tree,  however  large,  which  has  been  planted  too  deep, 
presents  no  appearance  of  this  kind,  but  rises  out  of  the 
level  ground  without  any  base,  in  a  manner  precisely 
similar  to  a  post.  In  order  to  prevent  this  appearance,  it 
is  advisable,  in  planting,  to  set  out  the  trees  on  a  hillock, 
a  few  inches  raised  above  the  surface,  in  order  that  they 
may,  when  the  ground  settles  about  them,  have  a  natural 
appearance  to  the  eye,  and  that  the  roots  may  also  be 
placed  in  the  most  favorable  condition. 

We  have  arranged  the  trees  to  be  planted  on  the  lawn, 
in  this  design,  as  in  most  of  the  others,  in  the  natural  style  of 
landscape  gardening — that  is,  with  a  view  to  the  production 


80 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


of  natural  beauty.  This  is  effected  by  planting  the  trees  in 
irregular  groups,  or  singly,  in  a  manner  some  what  similar  to 
that  in  which  they  occur  in  nature,  avoiding  straight  lines 
and  parallel  rows,  because  such  lines  indicate  a  formal  art, 
never  found  in  natural  landscape.  At  the  same  time  the 
effect  will  be  not  the  less  indicative  of  elegant  art,  which 
will  be  evinced ,  1st,  In  the  employment  of  many  exotic  trees, 
or  those  obviously  not  natives  of  this  part  of  the  country,  as 
the  Horse  Chestnut,  or  the  European  Linden  :  2d,  In  the 
space  allowed  for  the  trees  to  develope  themselves  fully  in 
the  lawn  from  h  to  a,  and  in  the  more  park-like  forms 
which  they  will  therefore  assume  in  time :  and  3dly,  In 
the  manner  in  which  these  trees  are  arranged.*  The  latter 
consists  in  concealing  all  objects  which  would  not  add  to 
the  beauty  of  the  scene  by  an  irregular  plantation,  as  for 
example,  the  fence  of  the  kitchen  garden  at  m,  or  the  out- 
buildings at  d  ;  in  planting  the  borders  of  the  Approach, 
and  of  all  walks,  so  as  to  give  an  obvious  reason  (when 
none  other  exists)  for  the  curves  of  such  walks,  as  well  as 
to  shade  or  shelter  them ;  and  in  contrasting  these  planta- 
tions by  broad  open  glades  of  turf,  n.  On  the  river  side 
of  the  house,  the  trees  should  be  so  arranged  as  not  to  shut 
out  any  important  portion  of  the  prospect. 

It  is  preferred  in  this  design,  not  to  have  any  spot 
especially  devoted  to  a  flower  garden,  but  in  its  place  to 
assemble  a  showy  and  select  collection  of  flowers,  in  beds 
dug  in  the  turf  bordering  the  walk  Tc,  near  the  house.  In 
this  way  the  flowers  are  brought  near  the  house,  and  their 

*  Landscape  gardening,  as  an  art,  does  not  consist,  as  many  seem  to  suppose, 
in  producing  a  counterfeit  of  nature,  but  in  idealizing  natural  beauty  in  a  lawn,  park, 
or  garden. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


81 


beauty  enjoyed,  without  destroying  the  simplicity  and 
general  effect  of  the  place,  by  cutting  off  a  separate  space 
for  a  flower  garden. 

In  laying  out  the  kitchen  garden  /,  the  border  within 
the  boundary  is  devoted  to  fruit  trees,  as  designated  on 
the  plan,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  space  in  the  corner 
adjoining  the  stable-yard  e,  for  hot  beds.  There  is  a 
separate  entrance  for  a  cart  or  wagon  to  this  yard,  or  to 
the  kitchen  garden,  by  a  road  on  the  left  of  the  kitchen 
garden.  The  interior  of  the  latter  is  left  free  for  grow- 
ing vegetables ;  and  a  select  collection  of  fruit  is 
planted  in  the  small  orchard  g.  This  little  orchard, 
together  with  the  border  set  apart  in  the  kitchen  garden, 
if  planted  with  the  selection  of  fruit  trees,  forty-two  in 
number,  given  for  this  purpose  in  a  succeeding  page,  will 
furnish  a  moderate  supply  to  the  family  through  the  greater 
part  of  the  year.  They  are  to  be  cultivated  as  standards, 
unless  the  proprietor  prefers  training  those  in  the  kitchen 
garden  as  espaliers,  and  the  ground  in  the  orchard  g,  is 
to  be  devoted  to  potatoes,  beets,  turnips,  or  other  roots, 
both  for  the  purpose  of  turning  the  ground  to  account,  and 
of  promoting  the  growth  of  the  trees. 

List  of  the  finest  hardy  ornamental  trees  of  foreign  and  native 
growth,  for  planting  in  growps  and  masses* 

CLASS  I. 

Deciduous  trees  of  the  largest  size^  and  of  very  rapid  growth. 

Chinese  Ailanthus,        -       -       Ailantus  glandulosa, 
European  Alder,     -       -       -       Alnus  glutinosa. 
Cut-leaved  do.       -       -       -         do.       do.  laciniata. 
Norway  Maple,     -       -       -      Acer  platanoides. 

10 


82  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 

Sugar  Maple,  - 
Catalpa,       -      .      _  . 
Spanish  Chestnut, 
European  Ash,      -       -  - 
American  White  do. 
Three  Thorned  Acacia, 
Tulip  Tree, 

European  Larch,    -      -  - 

American  do.      -      -  - 

American  Plane,  or  Sycamore, 

Oriental  do. 

Lombardy  Poplar, 

Silver-leaved  Aspen,  or  Abele, 

Cotton  Wood  do. 

Yellow  Locust, 

Weeping  WiDow, 

Huntington  do.  - 
American  Linden, 
European  Linden, 
Red-twigged  do.  - 
American  White,  or  Drooping  Elm,  Ulmus  americana. 
English  Elm,         -       -       -         do.  campestris. 
Dutch,  or  Corked-bark  Elm,    -         do.  suberosa. 
Scotch,  or  Wych  Elm,  -         do.  montana. 

CLASS  IL 

Deciduous  trees  of  the  largest  size,  and  of  moderate  growth. 

White  Horse  Chestnut,  -  -  JEsculus  hippocastanum. 

Scarlet  Maple,      ...  Acer  ruhrum. 

Silver-leaved  do.    -       -  -  do.  dasycarpum. 

Sycamore  do.       -       -  -  do.  pseudo  platanus. 

Scotch  Weeping  Birch,  -  Betula  alba,  pendula. 

Black  Birch,          _       -  .  do.  lenia. 

American  Beech,   -       -  -  Fagus  americana. 

Kentucky  Coffee,  -       -  -  Gymnocladus  canadensis. 

Sassafras  Tree,     .      -  -  Laurus  sassafras. 


Acer  saccharinum. 
Catalpa  syrigafolia. 
Castanea  vesca. 
Fraxinus  excelsior. 

do.  americana. 
Glediischia  triacanthos. 
Liriodendron  tulipifera. 
Larix  europcea. 

do.  microcarpa. 
Platanus  occidentalis. 

do.  orientalis. 
Populus  dilitata. 

do.  alba. 

do.  angulata. 
Rohinia  pseud-acacia. 
Salix  babylonica. 

do.  alba. 
Tilia  glabra, 
do.  europcea. 
do.  rubra. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Liquidamber,  or  Sweet  Gum, 
Cucumber  Magnolia, 
American  White  Oak,  - 
do.     Scarlet  do.  - 
Overcup  Oak, 
English  do. 
Lucombe's  Seedling  Oak, 
Willow-leaved  do. 
American  Cypress, 


Liquidamber  styracijlua. 
Magnolia  accuminata, 
Quercus  alba. 

do.  coccinea. 

do.  macrocarpa. 

do.  Robur. 

do.   lucombeana. 

do.  phellos. 
Taxodium  distichum. 


CLASS  III. 


Deciduous  trees  of  medium  size,  and  of  rapid  growth. 


Buckeye,  or  Western  Horse- 

Chestnut,  - 
Pale  Yellow  do.  - 
Weeping  Ash,  - 
Umbrella  Magnolia, 
Large  leaved  do.  - 
Ash  leaved  Maple, 
Osage  Orange,      .       -  . 
Double  Flowering  Cherry, 
Ringlet  Willow,  - 
WahooElm, 


Pavia  rubra. 

do.  flava. 
Fraxius  excelsior,  pendula. 
Magnolia  iripeiala. 

do,  macrophylla. 
Negundo  fraxinifolia. 
Madura  aurantiaca. 
Cerasus  flore  pleno. 
Salix  annularis. 
Ulmus  alata. 


CLASS  IV. 


Deciduous  trees  of  medium  size,  and  moderate  growth. 


PapaWjOr  Western  Custard  Apple,  Anona  triloba. 


Red  Bird,  or  Judas  Tree, 

White  flowering  Dogwood, 

Scotch  Laburnum, 

Persimon,  or  American  Medlar, 

Purple  leaved  Beech, 

Yellow  Magnolia,  -      -  - 

Sour  Gum,    -      -      -  - 


Cercis  canadensis. 
Cornusflorida. 
Cyiissus  alpinus. 
Diospyrus  virginiana. 
Fagus  sylvatica,  purpurea. 
Magnolia  cordata. 
Nyssa  villosa. 


84 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Paper  Birch,  -      -  - 
Japan  Ginko  Tree, 
European  Mountain  Ash, 
American      do.  do. 


Betula  pajpyracea. 
Salisburia  adiantifolia. 
Sorhus  aucuparia. 
do.  americana. 


Hardy  Evergreen  trees. 


Norway  Spruce  Fir, 
Double  Black  Spruce  Fir, 
Balsam,  or  Bahn  of  Gilead, 
Hemlock  Fir,  - 
White,  or  Weymouth  Pine,  - 
Yellow  Pine,        -      -  . 
English  Yew,       -      -  - 
American  Arbor  Vitae,  - 


Abies  picea. 

do.  nigra. 

do.  halsamea. 

do.  canadensis. 
Finns  strobus. 

do.  variabilis. 
Taxus  baccata. 
Thuya  occidentalis. 


CLASS.  V. 


Hardy  shrubs  growing  from  6  to  20  feet  high. 


Hercules  Club,     -      -  - 

Snow-Drop,  or  White  Fringe  Tree, 

Narrow  leaved  do. 

Laburnum,  or  Golden  Chain,  - 

Weeping  do. 

Yellow  Bladder  Senna, 

Pink  flowering  Hawthorn, 

New  Scarlet,  do. 

Double  White,  do. 

Cornelian  Cherry, 

European  Strawberry  Tree,  or 

Burning  Bush,    -      -  - 
White  Fruited,  do. 
Purple  Flowering,  do. 
American  do. 
Silver  Bell  Tree,  - 
Althea  Frutex,  or  Rose  of  Sharon, 

many  sorts  and  colours, 


Aralia  spinosa. 
Chionanihus  virginica. 

do.  maratima. 
Cytissus  laburnum. 

do.         do.  pendula. 
Coluiea  arborescens. 
Crategus  oxycanthay  var. 

do.  do.  var. 

do.  do.      fl.  pi. 

Cornus  mascula. 

Euonymus  europ<BUS, 

do.  do.      fructa  atho, 

do.  atropurpureus, 
do.  americanus. 

Halesia  tetraptera. 

Hibiscus  syriacus. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Silvery  Buckthorn, 
Chinese  Kolreuteria, 
Snowy  Flowered  Mespilus,  - 
Glaucous,  or  Swamp  Magnolia, 
Carolina  large  flowering  Syringo, 
Common  fragrant  do. 
Semi-double  do. 
Hop  Tree,     -       -      -  - 
Venetian  Sumac,  or  Purple  Fringe 

Tree,  .... 
Shrubby  Yellow  Robinia, 
Silvery-leaved  Shepherdia,  or 

Buffalo  berry,  - 
Three-leaved  Bladder  Nut,  - 
White  and  Purple  Lilacs, 
White  and  Purple  Persian  Lilacs, 
Cut  leaved  do. 
French  Tamarisk, 
Snowball,  or  Guelder  Rose,  - 
Way-faring  Tree, 


Hippophae  rhamnoides. 
Kolreuteria  paniculata. 
Mespilus  boiryapium. 
Magnolia  glauca. 
PMladelphus  grandijlorus. 

do.  coronarius. 

do.  semi-pleno. 
Pielea  trifoliaia. 

Rhus  cotinus. 
Robinia  frutescens. 

Shepherdia  argentea. 
Staphylea  trifoliaia. 
Syringa  vulgaris. 

do.  persica. 

do.  laciniata. 
Tamarix  gallica. 
Viburnum  opulus. 
do.  lantana. 


CLASS  VL 


Hardy  shrubs,  growing  from  1  to  6  or  8  feet  high. 


Indigo  Shrub,       -      -  - 
Dwarf  white  Horse  Chestnut, 
Groundsel  Tree, 
Sweet  scented  Shrub, 
Fragrant  Clethra, 
Panicled  flowered  Clethra, 
Red  flowering  bladder  Senna, 
Scorpion  Senna, 
Bloody  twigged  Dogwood, 
Cluster  flowered  Cytissus, 
Scarlet  Japan  Quince, 
Blush,  or  White  do. 
Pink  Mezereon, 


Amorphafruiicosa. 
JSsculus  macrostachya. 
Baccharis  halimifoUa. 
Calycanthusjioridus. 
Clethra  alnifolia. 
^  do.  paniculata. 
Colutea  arborescens. 
Coronilla  emerus. 
Cornus  sanguinea. 
Cytissus  capitatus. 
Cydonia  japonica. 

do.  alba. 
Daphne  mezereum. 


86 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


White  Mezereon,  - 
Oak  leaved  Hydrangea, 
Italian  yellow  Jasmine, 
Japan  yellow  Globe  Flower,  - 
Common  Privet,  or  Prim, 
Tartarian  Upright,  or  Tree  Honey- 
suckle,     -       .       -  - 
White  flowering  Honeysuckle, 
Black  berried  do. 
English  fly  do. 
Dwarf  Syringe,     -       -  - 
Shrubby  Cinquefoil, 
Double  Purple  Tree  PoBony,  - 
Single  Pink  and  Purple  do.  - 
Double  Rose  coloured    do.  - 
Rose  Acacia,  - 
Shrubby  Caragana, 
Corymbose  Spirea, 
Panicled      do.  - 
Pretty  flowering  Spirea, 
Sorb  leaved  do. 
Red  flowering  do. 
St.  Peters'  Wreath, 
Snowberry  (white  fruit,) 
Indian  Currant  (red  fruit,) 
Parsley  leaved  Yellow- Root, 


Daphne  m.  album. 
Hydrangea  quercifolia, 
Jasminum  hurmile. 
Kerriajaponica. 
Ligusirum  vulgare, 

Lonicera  iartarica. 
do.  alba, 
do.  nigrum, 
do.  xylosteum. 
PMladelphus  nanus. 
PotentiUa  fruticosa, 
Pceonia  moutan  Banksia. 

do.  papaveracea. 

do.  rosea. 
Robinia  hispida. 

do.  caragana. 
Spirea  corymbosa. 

do.  paniculata. 

do.  bella. 

do.  sorbifoUa. 

do.  tomentosa. 

do.  Jiypericifolia. 
Symphoria  racemosa. 

do.  glomerata. 
Zanihorhiza  apiifolia. 


Evergreen  Shrubs. 


Tree  Box,  -  -  -  - 
American  Holly,  - 
European  do.  rather  tender  at 
thenorthf  -  -  -  - 
Swedish  Juniper, 
Common  Laurel,  or  Kalmia,  - 
American  Rhododendron, 


Buxus  arborescens. 
Ilex  opaca. 

do.  aquifoUum. 
Juniperus  sueccia. 
Kalmia  latifolia. 
Rododendron  maxiumum. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Selection  of  very  choice  fruits,  for  the  small  orchard  of  42  trees 


CHERRIES. 

1  Knight's  early  Black. 
1  Mayduke. 
1  Tartarian. 

1  Napoleon  Bigarrieu. 

PEARS. 

2  Bartlett. 
2  Seckel. 

2  D'Angouleme. 
1  Early  Madeleine. 
1  Easter  Beurre. 

1  Bloodgood's  early. 

2  Marie  Louise. 
1  Beurre  Diel. 

PLUMS. 

1  Coe's  Golden  Drop. 
1  Washington. 
1  Green  Gage. 
1  La  Royale. 
1  Magnum  bonum. 


PEACHES. 

2  George  the  IV. 
2  Early  Newington. 
2  Morris  White. 
1  Yellow  Rareripe. 
1  Large  White  Cling. 

1  Favourite. 

APPLES. 

2  Newtown  Pippin. 
1  Yellow  Harvest. 

1  Fall  Pippin. 

2  Baldwin. 

1  Rhode  Island  Greening. 
1  Yellow  Bellflower. 
1  Ross'  Nonpareil. 

APRICOTS. 

1  Moorpark. 
1  Turkey. 

NECTARINES. 

1  Peterborough. 
1  Elruge. 


Total  42. 


88 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


DESIGN  IV. 

A71  Ornamental  Farm  House. 

In  designing  this  farm  house,  we  have  had  two  objects 
in  view ;  first,  to  offer  to  the  large  class  of  intelligent 
farmers,  a  plan  of  a  house  of  moderate  size,  somewhat 
adapted  in  internal  accommodation  to  their  peculiar 
wants :  and  second,  to  give  to  the  exterior,  at  little  addi- 
tional cost,  some  architectural  beauty.  The  first  object, 
it  is  evident,  must  ever  be  the  principal  one  in  a  farmer's 
dwelling,  and  therefore  every  thing  should  yield  to  such 
an  interior  arrangement,  as  will  give  the  greatest  amount 
of  comfort,  and  the  maximum  of  convenience,  in  performing 
in-door  labor.  But  beyond  this,  there  is  no  reason  why 
the  dwelling  houses  of  our  respectable  farmers  should  not 
display  some  evidences  of  taste,  as  well  as  those  of  profes- 
sional men,  or  persons  in  more  affluent  circumstances. 
The  farmers  are  really  the  most  independent  men  in  our 
community,  as  their  wealth  is  less  liable  to  fluctuation  than 
that  of  any  other  class ;  and  if  the  amount  which  they 
wish  to  expend  upon  a  dwelling,  is  less  than  that  within  the 
means  of  some  others,  they  are  generally  able,  on  the  other 
hand,  by  having  abundance  of  stone  or  timber  on  their  own 
premises,  to  build  at  a  greatly  reduced  cost.  By  bestow- 
ing some  degree  of  ornament  on  farm  houses,  we  shall 
hope  to  increase  the  interest  and  attachment,  which  the 


DESIGN  IV. 

AN  ORNAMENTAL  FARM  HOU«E 


Fig.  32, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES.  89 


farmer  and  his  family  have  for  their  home,  and  thereby 
to  improve  his  social  and  domestic  state.  A  man  who  is 
content  to  live  in  a  clumsy,  badly  contrived,  and  uncouth 
habitation,  vi^ill  generally  be  found  to  care  little  for  his 
home,  or  to  have  in  his  heart  but  a  scanty  flow  of  genial 
domestic  sympathies.  This  love  of  home,  and  with  it 
all  the  tender  affections  bound  up  in  that  endearing 
word,  will  be  sure  to  grow  with  every  step  we  take  to 
add  to  its  comforts,  or  increase  its  beauty  ;  and  if  we  feel 
a  species  of  affection  for  the  goodly  trees  we  have  planted, 
which,  growing  along  with  us,  seem  like  old  and  familiar 
friends,  we  must  acknowledge  a  still  greater  attachment 
to  a  dwelling  that  we  have  built,  and  which  becomes  our 
own  home, — whether  it  be  a  cottage  or  a  mansion, — if 
there  is  an  air  of  taste  lurking  about  it,  and  breathing  out 
from  vine  covered  porch  or  open  window  casement. 

We  are  especially  anxious  that  the  farmer  should  culti- 
vate a  taste  for  improving  his  home,  including  under  this 
term  his  dwelling,  and  his  garden  or  grounds,  as  we  are 
confident  that  in  so  doing  he  will  unconsciously  open  to 
himself  and  his  family  new  sources  of  enjoyment,  beyond 
such  as  are  directly  derived  from  their  beauty  and  con- 
venience. It  is  unquestionably  true,  that  we  learn  to 
appreciate  the  beauty  of  nature,  in  proportion  as  we  be- 
come familiar  with  the  beauty  of  art.  Now,  although  we 
do  not  expect  farmers  to  possess  a  gallery  of  pictures  or 
statuary,  yet  they  have  a  scarcely  less  instructive  field 
open  to  them  while  tastefully  disposing  their  gardens  and 
grounds,  in  studying  the  various  developments  of  beauty 
that  occur  and  become  familiar  to  the  mind  in  these,  and 
all  other  employments,  unfolding  the  order  and  harmony 

11 


90 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


of  a  well  regulated  rural  home.  And  we  will  venture  to 
assert,  that  no  person,  however  small  his  original  know- 
ledge, has  followed  these  occupations  thoughtfully  for  half 
a  dozen  years,  without  having  his  appreciation  of  the 
beauty  of  all  nature,  and  especially  the  beauty  of  trees, 
forests,  hills  and  rivers,  a  thousand  fold  increased. 

By  referring  to  the  plan  of  the  principal  floor.  Fig.  32, 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  main  building,  30  by  46  feet,  is 
two  stories  in  height,  and  contains  on  this  floor  a  hall,  a 
parlour,  two  bedrooms,  and  a  large  pantry.  The  parlour, 
or  sitting-room,  is  an  excellent  apartment,  suitable  for  any 
occasion,  and  the  pantry  being  placed  between  it  and  the 
kitchen,  either  of  these  rooms  may  be  used  to  dine  in  ; 
while  the  passage,  with  two  doors  between  the  parlour 
and  the  kitchen,  prevents  the  noise  of  the  latter  from  being 
heard  in  the  former. 

The  kitchen,  wash-house,  dairy,  and  wood-house,  on 
the  same  level  with  the  main  building,  are  contained  in  an 
L-form  addition  in  the  rear,  one  story  in  height.  The 
kitchen  is  16  feet  square,  and  opens  also  by  a  back  door, 
upon  a  broad  stone  platform,  under  which  the  steps  next 
the  main  building  descend  to  the  cellar.  The  wash- 
room is  16  feet  square,  and  has  by  the  side  of  the  fire- 
place a  circular  copper  boiler  set,  for  boiling  the  clothes. 
There  is  a  passage  from  the  wash-room,  communicating 
directly  with  the  wood-house.  The  dairy  may,  if  it  is 
thought  advisable,  be  sunk  three  feet  below  the  level  of 
the  wash-house,  and  paved  with  flag  stones,  in  order  to 
keep  it  cool ;  and  there  may  be  a  raised  shelf  of  stone  all 
around  it,  on  which  to  place  pans  of  milk.  In  this  case 
it  would  be  entered  by  descending  four  or  five  steps. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


91 


The  wood-house  has  a  large  door,  to  facilitate  unloading 
from  the  wood  wagons. 

The  plan  of  the  second  story, 
Fig.  33,  affords  three  good  bed- 
rooms, closets,  &c.,  and  a  small 
bedroom ;  and  above  this  story 
is  an  ample  garret  for  drying 
various  seeds  and  vegetables. 

The  cellar  is  large,  being 
of  the  same  size  as  the  main 
building,  and  on  the  side  next 
the  carriage  road,  should  be 
placed  a  slide^  wide  enough  to 
receive  a  cart  load  of  roots, 
which  will  save  .much  labor 
and  time  usually  occupied  in  carrying  them  in  baskets. 

This  dwelling  is  supposed  to  be  constructed  of  rough 
stone,  or  stone  partially  smooth  on  the  face,  but  not  laid  in 
regular  courses.  Such  stone  is  abundant  throughout  a 
great  portion  of  the  United  States  and  makes  excellent 
walls. 

We  have  given  the  preference  to  the  Rural  Pointed  style 
in  composing  the  exterior  of  this  dwelUng,  partly  on  ac- 
count of  the  large  lofts  or  garrets,  so  useful  to  the  farmer, 
afforded  by  the  steep  gables  and  roofs,  and  partly  on  ac- 
count of  its  intrinsic  beauty  and  picturesque  effect  when 
built  of  stone  even  in  this  simple  manner.  We  have  in- 
troduced a  veranda  in  the  same  style  in  front,  because  such 
a  feature  is  as  necessary  to  the  comfort  of  a  farm-house 
as  a  villa  in  this  country. 

Where  all  the  outbuildings  are  to  be  erected  at  the 


92 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


same  time  with  the  dwelling-house,  something  of  the  same 
style  should  be  evinced  in  their  construction.  It  is  not 
necessary  to  attain  this,  that  ornamental  verge  boards,  or 
windows,  or  other  minor  details,  should  be  introduced  in 
barns  or  the  like  structures,  but  it  will  be  sufficient  if  at- 
tention is  paid  to  repeating  the  same  general  forms  in 
the  outlines  of  the  buildings,  and  of  these  the  form  of  the 
roof  or  gables  is  most  essential. 

In  some  districts,  wood  is  the  only  material  which 
comes  within  reach  of  the  farmer.  When  this  is  the  case 
it  would  be  better  to  adopt  another  style  for  the  exterior, 
of  a  lighter  character.  We  would  recommend  the  simple 
projecting  roof,  and  the  general  style  of  Design  I.,  omit- 
ting some  of  the  ornamental  details.  The  arrangement  of 
the  rooms  would  require  no  material  alteration,  whatever 
style  of  architecture  may  be  adopted  for  the  interior ;  and 
a  farm-house  built  in  the  plainest  manner,  preserving  the 
arrangement  exactly,  would  still  have  all  the  merit  of  this 
part  of  the  design,  of  whatever  value  it  may  be  considered. 

It  is  evident  that  to  some  families  another  parlour,  or  a 
common  eating  room,  but  little  superior  to  the  kitchen, 
might  be  thought  desirable.  This  would  be  easily  ob- 
tained by  converting  the  rear  bedroom  into  a  dining-room 
and  keeping  the  'parlour,  (which  is  now  intended  to  serve 
the  purpose  of  dining-room  also,)  as  a  show  apartment,  or 
lest  room.  Such  a  plan  might  suit  the  fancy  of  those  who 
take  pleasure  in  keeping  the  best  and  most  comfortable 
room  in  their  house  shut,  except  when  they  see  strangers, 
but  we  cannot  recommend  it  as  consonant  with  good  taste, 
and  that  unaffected,  genuine  hospitality,  which  ought  to 
characterize  "  plain  country  folks." 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


93 


Details  of  construction*  The  construction  of  this  build- 
ing will  be  easily  understood  by  merely  inspecting  the  ele- 
vation as  it  is  extremely  simple.  In  Fig.  34,  the  verge- 
board  and  cornice  are 
shown  more  in  detail,  to 
the  scale  of  ^  inch  to  a 
foot.  In  this,  A,  is  the 
front  view  of  the  top  of 
the  gable,  and  b,  the  pro- 
file or  section  of  the 
same,  p,  is  the  pendant 
which  perforates  the  ridge 
of  the  roof,  and  termi- 
nates the  gable  by  what 
is  termed  a  hip  knob,  or  finial.  The  roof,  in  this  design, 
projects  about  a  foot  beyond  the  walls  of  the  house.  The 
veranda  is  supported  by  octagonal  posts  or  pillars,  the 
openings  between  which,  are  ornamented  at  the  top  by 
single  arches  cut  from  2  inch  plank.  All  the  exterior 
wood-work  of  this  building,  (except  sashes  and  doors,) 
should  be  painted  three  coats  of  the  same  color  as  the 
stone,  or  a  few  shades  lighter,  and  sanded. 

Estimate.  The  cost  of  this  building,  supposing  the  stone 
to  be  found  on  the  farm,  and  all  the  materials  to  be  drawn 
by  the  farmer,  w^ill  not  exceed  $1700. 

The  Ferme  Ornee^  or  ornamental  portion  of  the  farm. 

The  ferme  ornee  is  a  term  generally  applied  to  a  farm,  the 
whole  or  the  greater  part  of  which  is  rendered  in  some  de- 
gree ornamental,  by  intersecting  it  with  drives,  and  private 


[Fig.  13.] 


94 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


lanes  and  walks,  bordered  by  trees  and  shrubs,  and  by  the 
neater  arrangement  and  culture  of  the  fields.  But  it  may 
also  be  applied  to  a  farm  with  a  tasteful  farm-house,  and 
so  much  of  the  ground  about  it  rendered  ornamental,  as 
would  naturally  meet  the  eye  of  the  stranger,  in  approach- 
ing it  the  first  time. 

It  is  evident  that  the  farm  proper,  in  the  present  case, 
may  consist  of  50  or  500  acres.  We  have  only  shown  in 
the  annexed  engraving,  Fig.  35,  a  plan  of  a  few  acres 
immediately  surrounding  the  house,  and  consisting  of  the 
entrance  lawn  a,  about  one  and  a  quarter  acres,  bordering 
the  entrance  road  or  approach  h;  the  orchard  c,  the 
kitchen  garden  d,  adjoining  fields,  in  grass  or  under  the 
plough  e,  and  the  yard  for  the  out-buildings /. 

At  g  is  shown  the  house,  and  in  the  rear  of  the  kitchen, 
wash-house,  &c.,  is  the  kitchen  yard  h.  The  out-build- 
ings, or  farmery,  are  arranged  around  three  sides  of  a 
square,  open  to  the  south,  and  consist  of  the  piggery  j, 
the  tool-house  communicating  with  the  garden  Tc,  open 
shed  for  carts,  ploughs,  &c.,  Z,  cow-house  with  three  calf- 
pens  attached  at  the  end  m,  barn  n,  stable  for  horses  o, 
wagon-house  p,  and  corn  crib  q.  The  surface  of  the 
yard  descends  slightly  on  all  sides  to  the  centre  f,  where 
the  manure  heap  is  kept.  This  collection  of  out-buildings 
is  much  more  complete  and  extensive,  than  will  be  found 
connected  with  most  farms  in  this  country,  but  we  have 
given  it,  with  the  view  of  exhibiting  what  ought  to  be 
aimed  at  as  a  desideratum  in  accommodation,  on  every 
extensive  farm  ;  and  it  will  be  found  easy  to  diminish  the 
amount  of  buildings  and  sheds  to  as  many  as  would 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


 \  ^ 

[Fig.  35.] 


96 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


occupy  only  one  side  of  the  yard,  if  the  farm  be  small,  or 
to  such  a  number  as  can  be  afforded. 

This  plan  will  require  but  little  description,  as  the  orna- 
mental grounds  have  no  intricacy  of  detail.  The  effect  of 
the  view  from  the  house  across  the  entrance  lawn  a,  would 
be  pleasing,  and  its  expression  would  be  that  of  simply 
natural,  or  pastoral  beauty.  The  trees  might  be  of  the 
finest  native  species,  selected  from  the  woods  on  the  farm, 
as  nothing  is  more  beautiful  than  our  fine  drooping  Elms, 
Tulip  trees,  Oaks,  and  Ashes.  Or  some  additional  interest 
may  be  given  to  the  place,  by  introducing  a  few  Horse 
Chestnuts  or  European  Lindens,  around  the  house,  and 
along  the  approach.  The  trees  we  would  plant  in  natural 
groups,  as  indicated  on  the  plan,  as  this  would  not  only 
evince  a  more  cultivated  taste  in  a  farmer,  than  strait 
lines,  but  it  would  also  add  to  the  apparent  extent  of  the 
whole  area,  devoted  to  ornamental  trees,  by  giving  it  an 
irregular  and  varied  boundary  of  foliage. 

This  acre  and  a  quarter  devoted  to  ornament,  may  also 
be  rendered  profitable  also  :  1st,  by  mowing  the  grass  over 
the  whole  surface ;  or,  2dly,  by  keeping  it  short,  by  pas- 
turing it  with  favorite  animals.  In  the  case  of  mowing, 
when  no  animals  are  admitted,  a  few  flowering  shrubs  and 
plants  may  be  cultivated  directly  around  the  house.  But  if 
it  is  preferred  to  pasture  the  area,  it  would  be  necessary 
to  confine  all  small  shrubs  and  plants  to  a  certain  portion 
of  the  kitchen  garden  devoted  to  this  purpose. 

There  are  some  farmers  who  would  be  willing  to  devote 
an  acre  around  their  house  to  some  kind  of  lawn,  or  pur- 
pose superiour  to  a  common  field,  who  are  yet  not  suffi- 
ciently alive  to  the  beauty  and  dignity  of  fine  forest  trees. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


97 


to  be  willing  to  plant  the  latter.  Such  may  substitute 
fruit  for  forest  trees,  and  even  arrange  them  in  the  same 
manner,  planting  those  most  symmetrical  and  pleasing  in 
their  forms,  as  the  cherry  and  pear,  near  the  house  and  the 
Approach ;  and  those  which  are  unsightly  in  growth,  nearest 
the  boundary. 

The  beauty  of  a  ferme  ornee  will  be  greatly  enhanced 
by  introducing  verdant  hedges,  in  the  place  of  stone  or 
wooden  fences,  at  least  in  all  situations  near  the  house. 
The  best  plant  to  be  had  in  the  nurseries,  for  this  purpose, 
is  the  Newcastle  thorn,  a  native  sort,  much  hardier  and 
better  than  the  English  for  our  climate.  But  almost  any 
of  our  native  thorns  in  the  woods,  make  admirable  hedges, 
and  the  farmer  may  gather  the  seeds,  and  raise  them  him- 
self. Good  hedges  may  also  be  made  of  the  crab,  or  the 
buckthorn,  or  even  the  mulberry,  though  the  latter  will  not 
turn  cattle,  from  its  want  of  thorns. 

If  the  ground  is  previously  well  prepared  by  repeated 
ploughings  and  manuring,  and  proper  care  is  taken  to 
head  back  the  young  plants  the  first  year  or  two  to  make 
a  thick  bottom,  and  to  trim  them  twice  a  year  afterwards, 
an  excellent  hedge  may  be  obtained  in  five  years.  No 
person,  we  hope,  who  has  once  seen  a  handsome  deep 
green  hedge,  forming  a  dense  close  surface,  enlivened  with 
blossoms  in  the  spring,  and  berries  in  the  autumn,  will 
grudge  the  little  annual  care  necessary  to  substitute  this  for 
at  least  a  small  part  of  his  unsightly  wall,  or  "post  and  rail." 

Wooden  and  stone  fences  near  the  house,  may  be  ren- 
dered ornamental  by  planting  the  Virginia  creeper,  (Am- 
pelopsis,)  or  five-leaved  ivy,  at  short  distances  along  the 
fence.    This  vine  is  common  over  a  large  portion  of  the 

12 


98 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Union,  and  will  quickly  form  a  beautiful  mantle  of  verdure, 
concealing  the  wall  in  summer  with  its  rich  and  luxuriant 
green,  and  in  autumn  with  its  bright  scarlet  foliage. 

When  the  eye  commands  from  the  house  a  view  beyond 
the  ornamental  lawn,  the  latter  may  be  pleasingly  con- 
nected by  planting  or  preserving,  here  and  there,  in  the 
adjoining  fields,  a  few  of  the  same  forest  trees  that  are 
growing  on  the  lawn,  thus  avoiding  too  strongly  marked 
a  contrast  between  the  latter  area  and  the  farm  lands,  and 
showing  something  of  a  unity  of  design  or  purpose. 

The  orchard  near  the  house  is  an  apple  orchard,  and 
we  give  a  selection  of  one  hundred  trees  for  the  purpose  of 
planting  it  with  the  most  valuable  sorts,  including  a  num- 
ber of  sweet  apples,  for  feeding  stock. 


Ripens  ill 

2  Early  Bough, 

August. 

2  Yellow  Harvest, 

July. 

6  Esopus  Spitzenberg, 

Nov.  Feb. 

4  Boston  Russet, 

May. 

6  Fall  Pippin, 

Sept.  Dec. 

8  Jersey  Sweet, 

Aug.  Nov. 

6  Jonathan, 

Dec.  Feb. 

6  Baldwin, 

Nov.  May. 

2  Lady  Apple, 

Nov.  March. 

4  Golden  Pippin, 

Dec.  Feb. 

6  Ladies'  Sweeting, 

Nov.  March. 

8  Newtown  Pippin, 

Dec.  May. 

3  Golden  Sweeting, 

Sept.  Oct. 

8  Rhode  Island  Greening, 

Nov.  March. 

2  Summer  Paradise, 

Aug.  Sept. 

4  Swaar, 

Dec.  March. 

8  Yellow  Belle  Fleur, 

Oct.  Jan. 

4  Pearmain, 

Nov.  March. 

4  Michael  Henry  Pippin, 

Nov.  March. 

2  Dominie, 

Nov.  March. 

2  Hubbardston  Nonsuch, 

Dec.  March. 

2  Gravenstein, 

Sept.  Oct. 

DESIGN  V. 

A  COTTAGE  VILLA,  IN  THE  BRACKETED  MODE. 


Fig.  37 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


99 


DESIGN  V. 

A  cottage-villa  in  the  Bracketted  mode. 

We  trust  that  the  exterior  of  this  villa  will  generally 
please,  as  although  it  is  very  simple  in  form,  v^e  have 
endeavored  to  add  to  its  domestic,  comfortable  air,  a  more 
forcible  and  elegant  expression  than  rectangular  buildings 
generally  possess.  The  strongly  marked  character  which 
it  has,  is  derived  mainly  from  the  bold  projection  of  the 
roof,  supported  by  ornamental  brackets,  and  from  the 
employment  of  brackets  for  supports,  in  various  other  parts 
of  the  building. 

This  bracketted  mode  of  building,  so  simple  in  con- 
struction, and  so  striking  in  effect,  will  be  found  highly 
suitable  to  North  America,  and  especially  to  the  southern 
states.  The  coolness  and  dryness  of  the  upper  story, 
afforded  by  the  almost  veranda-like  roof,  will  render  this 
a  delightful  feature  in  all  parts  of  our  country  where  the 
summers  are  hot,  and  the  sun  very  bright,  during  the  long 
days  of  that  season.  Indeed,  we  think  a  very  ingenious 
architect  might  produce  an  American  cottage  style,  by  care- 
fully studying  the  capabilities  of  this  mode,  so  abounding 
in  picturesqueness,  and  so  easily  executed. 

In  actual  fitness  for  domestic  purposes,  in  this  country, 
we  think  this  bracketted  mode  has  much  to  recommend 
it.  It  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  two  kinds  of  construc- 
tion which  must,  for  some  time,  be  the  most  prevalent  in  the 


100 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


United  States — wood,  and  brick  covered  by  cement.  Its 
comparative  lightness  of  character,  renders  it  well  suited 
for  wood,  and  the  protection  afforded  by  the  projection  of 
the  roof,  will  give  complete  security  and  dryness  to  the 
walls,  rendering  good  stucco  or  cement  in  such  a  situation, 
as  durable  as  stone.  The  facility  of  its  construction  is  an 
additional  circumstance  in  its  favour,  as  the  details  are 
extremely  simple — the  ornamental  brackets,  which  are  the 
principal  features  of  decoration,  being  cut  out  of  pine 
or  oak  plank,  two  inches  thick,  and  one  or  two  patterns 
serving  for  the  whole  exterior. 

Extending  the  roof  in  the  manner  shown  in  this  design, 
gives  expression  and  character  at  once  to  the  exterior,  and 
the  broad  and  deep  shadows  thrown  by  the  projection  are 
not  only  effective  and  pleasing  to  the  artistical  eye,  but 
they  increase  the  actual  comfort  of  the  chamber  apart- 
ments ;  a  projection  of  from  20  inches  to  three  feet,  serving 
as  a  hood  to  shelter  the  windows  from  the  summer  sun 
during  all  the  sultry  portion  of  the  day ;  while  in  winter, 
the  sun  being  low  in  position,  this  effect  will  not  be  felt, 
when  it  is  not  desirable. 

On  entering  the  hall,  (see  plan  of  principal  floor,  Fig. 
37,)  we  find  on  the  left  an  oval  dining,  or  living  room, 
lighted  by  a  large  and  handsome  window  on  the  side,  and 
another  in  front ;  the  latter  finished  with  a  window-seat. 
There  are  two  pantries,  or  closets,  in  this  room,  in  the 
spaces  formed  by  the  ovals  in  front,  and  the  opposite  end 
of  the  room  may  be  finished  with  shallow  closets  for  plate, 
glass,  or  valuable  china.  At  the  opposite  end  of  this  room, 
is  a  door  opening  into  the  passage  h,  which  communicates 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


101 


with  the  stairs  to  the  kitchen,  (under  the  main  stairs,)  and 
also  with  the  open  air,  by  the  door  on  the  veranda.  At 
the  left  of  this  passage  is  a  water-closet,  (W.  C.) 

On  the  opposite  side  is  the  parlour  or  drawing-room, 
occupying  the  whole  space,  18  by  26  feet.  This  room  is 
of  very  handsome  size,  and  if  well  finished  would  make  a 
splendid  apartment.  The  ceiling  should  be  13  or  14  feet 
high,  and  might  be  supported  by  a  bracketted  cornice, 
tastefully  executed  in  plaster,  to  harmonise  with  the 
character  of  the  exterior.  Our  own  taste  would  lead  us 
to  prefer  greatly,  in  all  cases,  the  simplicity  and  dignity 
of  a  single  large  apartment  of  this  kind,  in  the  country,  to 
two  apartments  connected  by  folding  or  sliding  doors.  In 
the  latter,  the  single  room  considered  by  itself,  is  com- 
paratively of  no  importance,  because  it  is  evidently  only 
one  half  of  the  architect's  idea,  and  the  couy  d'ceil  of  the 
whole  is  greatly  injured,  by  the  partition  still  remaining, 
after  the  doors  are  open.  A  large  room  like  this  drawing- 
room,  will,  on  the  contrary,  be  a  complete  whole  in  itself, 
and  regarding  its  effect,  either  with  or  without  company, 
it  will  be  found  much  more  satisfactory  than  that  of  the 
two  smaller  ones  connected.  Access  to  the  veranda  from 
this  room,  is  afforded  by  the  window  at  its  farther  end, 
which  is  a  casement-window  opening  to  the  floor,  and  may 
therefore  be  used  as  a  door. 

At  the  end  of  the  hall  a  door  opens  into  the  library,  18 
by  20  feet,  which  is  a  cool,  airy  apartment,  shaded  by  the 
veranda  that  surrounds  it  on  three  sides.  It  communi- 
cates directly  with  the  drawing-room  by  one  door,  and 
with  the  passage  6,  leading  to  the  veranda,  by  another. 


102  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 

On  the  second  floor  are 
five  bedrooms,  Fig.  38. 
The  two  bedrooms  on  the 
right  being  connected  by  a 
door,  one  of  them  may  be 
used  as  a  nursery,  and  the 
other  as  a  family  bedroom. 
Three  bedrooms,  for  ser- 
vants, may  be  finished  in 
the  attic  story,  which  will 
be  lighted  by  the  windows 
in  the  gable.  There  is  a 
handsome  balcony,  which  is 
entered  upon  from  the  case- 
ment-window, at  the  end  of  the  hall  in  this  story,  shaded 
by  the  broad  overhanging  roof,  and  two  other  balconies 
which  accompany,  in  a  similar  manner,  the  large  windows 
in  the  two  principal  bedrooms  on  either  side  of  this  hall. 
These  two  large  windows  are  each  composed  of  three 
compartments,  and  the  middle  compartment  of  that  on  the 
right,  against  which  the  partition  of  the  nursery  abuts,  is 
made  solid  on  the  inside,  which  still  gives  one  window, 
or  compartment  of  moderate  size,  for  each  room. 

The  basement  accommodation.  Fig.  39,  consists  of  a 
kitchen,  laundry,  store-room,  and  cellar.  The  basement 
story  is  raised  about  three  and  a  half  feet  above  ground, 
with  areas  built  around  the  windows,  to  admit  an  abun- 
dance of  light.  The  outer  entrance  to  this  story  is  by  the 
steps  descending  under  the  veranda,  indicated  on  the  left 
of  this  plan. 

The  chimneys  in  this  elevation  are  bold  and  striking. 


COTTAaE  RESIDENCES. 


103 


and  show  what  would  be  in 
good  keeping  with  the  style 
of  the  house.  Their  con- 
struction is  simple.  They 
are  each  covered  on  the  top 
by  two  flat  copeing  stones, 
of  bold  projection,  the  smoke 
escaping  on  two  sides,  (Fig. 
42.)  Chimneys  built  in  this 
manner  are  much  more  like- 
ly to  draw  well  than  those 
with  an  open  top,  in  the  com- 
mon mode.  This  form,  how- 
ever, is  not  by  any  means 
essential,  and  square  flues  in  a  body,  with  a  bold  cornice 
supported  on  bricks  projecting  as  brackets,  or  separate 
detached  flues  carried  up  in  clusters,  with  heavy  tops, 
would  also  be  suitable  for  a  building  in  this  style. 

Variation  of  this  design,  as  constructed  in  wood.  The  fore- 
going engravings  being  in  illustration  of  this  design,  as 
built  of  solid  materials,  we  introduce  another  elevation, 
Fig.  40,  to  show  its  appearance  constructed  of  wood. 
The  common  mode  of  siding  is  sufiiciently  well  understood 
by  every  one,  but  in  this  elevation  a  less  general  mode  is 
shown,  which  consists  in  tongue  and  grooving  the  boards, 
nailing  them  vertically  on  the  frame,  and  covering  the 
joint  by  a  strip  one  to  two  inches  wide.  We  suggest  this 
mode  as  a  variation,  as  it  makes  a  very  warm  and  dry 
house,  and  the  eflfect  is  good.  Fig.  45  is  a  section  to  the 
scale  of  half  an  inch  to  a  foot,  showing  this  kind  of  siding. 

There  are,  perhaps,  some  families  who  would  much 
prefer  a  bedroom,  to  the  library  in  our  previous  plan  of 


BASEMENT. 

[Fig.  39.] 


104 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


105 


the  principal  floor.  We  have  in  the  annexed  Fig.  41, 
shown  how  this  wing,  originally  intended  for  a  library, 
may,  by  a  little  variation  in  the  plan,  be  made  to  afford  a 
pleasant  bedroom,  with  a  closet  adjoining,  and  a  pretty 
little  boudoir  opening  either  into  the  bedroom  or  the  draw- 
ing-room, as  may  be  thought  best.  If  this  variation  should 
be  preferred  to  the  original  plan  of  this  floor,  it  will  only 
be  necessary  to  carry  through  the  partitions  introduced  in 
this  wing,  which  will  make  a  similar  alteration  in  the  plan 
of  the  second  and  basement  stories.  So  easily  understood 
that  it  will  not  require  any  farther  plans  in  illustration. 

Details.  A  portion  of  the  porch 
in  Fig.  43,  shows  the  mariner 
of  ornamenting  this  part  of  the 
building  by  brackets.  Four  va- 
rieties of  brackets,  suitable  for  the 
roof  supports  of  buildings  in  this 
style,  are  seen  in  the  accompany- 
ing Fig.  44.  In  this  engraving, 
drawn  to  the  scale  of  half  an  inch 
to  a  foot.  A,  represents  the  bold- 


"      V  ^ 


[Fig.  43.] 


ll!fl^M¥a'|llll|^l^|M;)^^Mll^lrJ.,|[|Ii|ll 
[Fig.  42.] 

est  form,  suitable  for  the  corners  or 
angles  of  building;  b,  one  of  lesser 
size,  proper  for  the  projection  of 
the  gables  ;  c,  is  another  variation, 
employed  in  the  bold  projection  of 
the  gable  in  front,  over  the  porch, 
and  D,  is  a  form  employed  for  eave 
brackets,  when  it  is  thought  ad- 
visable to  continue  them  along  the 
whole  line  of  roof,  as  in  the  next 

13 


106 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


design.  In  this  engraving,  a  represents  a  moulding,  and 
h  the  roof  and  cornice  above  the  bracket.  The  most  com- 
plete mode  would  undoubtedly  be  to  employ  cut-stone 


[Fig.  44.] 

brackets  in  a  building  like  this,  composed  of  stone  or  solid 
materials  ;  but  if  made  of  good  sound  wood,  and  thoroughly 
painted  and  sanded  to  resemble  the  stone  or  stucco,  it  will 
answer  nearly  as  well. 

In  Fig.  45,  is  seen  a  section  of  the  mode 
of  siding,  alluded  to  in  our  variation  of 
[Fig.  45.]       this  design  in  wood,  which  needs  no  fur- 
ther explanation. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  supports  to  the  veranda  in 
the  rear  of  this  dwelling,  are  simple,  octagonal  posts,  or- 
namented with  brackets  at  the  top,  and  that  the  brackets 
being  a  characteristic  feature  in  this  style  or  mode,  it  is 
introduced  wherever  a  support  is  really  or  apparently 
necessary,  as  in  the  case  of  the  balconies  to  the  windows, 
etc.  And  in  a  building  in  this  mode,  the  unity  of  design 
should  be  further  preserved,  by  carrying  out  the  boldness 
of  character  in  all  portions  of  the  building,  by  projecting 
the  roofs,  verandas,  porches,  etc.,  in  a  proportionate  de- 


COTTAaE  RESIDENCES. 


107 


gree,  and  by  introducing  few  and  bold  mouldings  and  or- 
naments. 

Some  character  is  given  to  the  roof  in  this  design,  by 
employing  shingles  of  an  uniform  size,  and  rounding  the 
lower  ends  before  laying  them  on  the  roof* 

We  have  designated  a  water-closet  in  this  design.  A 
water-closet  does  actually  not  require  a  space  larger  than 
3  by  4  or  5  feet,  and  it  may  therefore  be  introduced  in  the 
first  or  second  story  of  almost  every  house,  although  we 
have  only  shown  it  in  two  or  three  of  these  designs.  If 
properly  constructed,  and  its  accompanying  cistern  kept 
supplied  with  water,  it  will  be  found  entirely  free  from 
odours  of  any  kind,  and  therefore  a  very  great  desideratum 
in  every  house.  The  better  way  is  to  employ  a  first  rate 
plumber  from  the  city  to  fit  it  up  completely,  while  the 
house  is  in  progress.  In  order  to  explain  the  principle  of  its 
construction  we  extract  the  following  description  of  one  of 
a  simple  and  very  efficient  kind  from  the  Encycloj^edia  of 
Cottage,  Farm  and  Villa  Architecture,  p.  18. 

"  The  water-closet  may  be  variously  arranged  ;  but  as 
one  of  the  best  and  cheapest  modes,  and  one  the  least 
likely  to  go  out  of  order,  we  give  the  following :  The 
cistern,  Fig.  45,  a  may  be  at  any  distance  from  the  seat 
J,  provided  it  be  on  a  higher  level,  by  four  or  five  j^et. 

*  The  principle  of  expression  of  purpose,  demands  that  the  roofs  of  buildings 
should  be  shown,  and  rendered  ornamental.  In  snowy  countries,  especially,  a 
moderately  steep  roof  is  necessaiy  to  sustain  the  pressure,  and  shed  the  snow  per- 
fectly, and  it  should  always,  therefore,  be  boldly  exposed,  and  rendered  ornamental 
in  domestic  architecture.  Some  of  our  builders  seem  to  have  a  farcical  horror  of 
a  roof,  or  a  chimney-top,  (derived  from  the  study  of  Greek  temples !)  and  con- 
ceal both,  by  costly  and  elaborate  balustrades  and  parapets,  in  many  cases  at  an 
expense  sufficient,  if  judiciously  applied,  to  have  given  a  superior  character  to  the 
whole  building. 


108 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


The  basin  c,  may  be  an  inverted 
hollow  cone,  truncated,  and  joined 
to  a  piece  of  cylindrical  tube,  in- 
serted in  a  closed  leaden  vessel, 
technically  called  a  smell-trap  d. 
In  the  side  of  c,  at  e,  is  a  hole 
or  vertical  opening  passing  obli- 
quely through  the  sides  of  the 
basin  and  communicating  with 
the  cistern  a,  by  the  pipe  /. 
The  water  in  the  cistern  is  pre- 
vented from  running  off  through 
this  pipe  by  a  nicely  fitting  valve 
[Fig.  45.]  at  g.     When    it  is  desired  to 

allow  the  water  to  rush  down  into  the  basin,  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  pull  the  string  h  ;  which,  if  the  cistern  be  at  a  dis- 
tance, may  pass  over  several  puUies,  according  to  the  num- 
ber of  angles  in  its  course.  In  order  to  insure  the  descent  of 
a  quantity  of  water  to  the  basin  every  time  it  has  been  used, 
a  cord  i,  may  be  joined  to  A,  and  passed  over  the  pully  at 
Tcf  and  the  end  of  this  cord  may  be  fixed  to  the  upper  part 
of  the  door  of  the  water-closet,  at  such  a  distance  from 
the  hinge,  say  a  foot,  as  will  sufiice  to  lift  up  the  valve  g  ; 
or  the  same  purpose  might  be  effected  by  a  lever  which 
would  be  acted  upon  every  time  the  door  was  opened. 
In  every  case  where  it  is  intended  that  a  common  or  lever 
valve  should  be  operated  on  by  a  door,  the  latter  ought  to 
have  a  spring-bolt  to  shut  it,  lest  at  any  time  it  should  be 
left  open  by  neglect."  There  are  several  late  improvements 
in  water-closets  now  to  be  had  of  the  best  plumbers  in 
New- York.  The  waste  pipe  from  the  water-closet  should 
leave  the  house  by  a  properly  fitted  under-ground  drain, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


109 


and  should  either  terminate  in  a  covered  drain  or  sewer, 
at  a  considerable  distance,  or  in  a  well  or  cistern  for  liquid 
manure,  the  contents  of  which  may  be  turned  to  valuable 
account. 

Estimate.  This  cottage-villa  may  be  built  of  brick-and- 
stucco,  or  of  wood,  in  the  best  manner,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$5500.  With  cut  free-stone  trimmings  it  would  cost  $6000. 

Laying  out  the  ground. 

The  situation  for  which  this  cottage  is  designed  borders 
the  public  road  and  contains  about  two  acres,  which  are 
nearly  level.  At  the  back  of  the  garden.  Fig.  47,  is  a  steep 
hill  a,  the  side  covered  with  trees,  which  is  ascended  by 
a  walk  bj  leading  to  a  rustic  summer-house  on  the  top  at 
c,  from  whence  the  prospect  of  the  surrounding  country  is 
obtained. 

The  house  is  at  J,  and  the  objects  in  laying  out  the 
ground  were  to  create  an  airy,  cheerful  aspect  around  the 
house,  especially  in  front ;  to  preserve  a  view  of  the  steep 
picturesque  hill  from  the  veranda  in  the  rear,  and  with  the 
appearance  of  a  good  deal  of  ornamental  effect  to  retain 
about  one  acre,  or  nearly  half  the  level  ground,  for  a 
kitchen  garden  e,  and  a  fruit  garden /. 

In  order  to  give  an  air  of  some  extent  and  elegance  about 
the  house,  the  whole  surface  in  this  neighborhood,  not  de- 
voted to  the  kitchen  and  fruitgardens,  is  laid  down  in  lawn 
g,  to  be  kept  neatly  mown  ;  with  the  exception  of  the  long 
borders  A,  devoted  to  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  flow- 
ers ;  the  circular  beds,  filled  with  verbenas,  petunias 
and  monthly  roses,  three  plants  which  will  bloom  the 


110 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


[Fig.  47.] 


COTTAGE  EESIDENCES. 


Ill 


whole  summer,  and  have  a  brilliant  effect  from  the  draw-r 
ing-room  windows  ;  and  the  two  beds^  filled  with  choice 
double  Dahlias.  In  the  turf  is  planted  a  number  of  the 
finest  species  of  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs,  some  being 
allowed  to  grow  alone  and  assume  all  their  beauty  of  de- 
velopment, and  others  planted  in  groups,  or  thickets,  for 
effect  or  shelter.  The  novice  will  be  assisted  in  making  a 
selection  of  these  trees  and  shrubs,  by  referring  to  the  list 
given  at  page  81.  Some  of  the  less  hardy  and  robust  of 
these  trees  and  shrubs,  being  planted  in  groups  in  this 
way,  will  require  that  the  surface  around  each  tree  for  a 
small  area  of  about  two  feet  in  diameter  be  kept  loose  by 
culture  to  promote  their  growth,  until  they  attain  consider- 
able size. 

The  entrance  gate  is  shown  at  Tc,  and  there  is  a  large 
oval  of  turf  around  which  to  turn  carriages  immediately 
before  the  door.  The  carriage  road  ?,  after  approaching 
the  entrance  to  the  kitchen,  for  the  convenience  of  de- 
livering heavy  articles,  leads  to  the  carriage-house  m,  ad- 
joining which  are  the  barn  and  stable  and  the  stable 
yard  o,  the  latter  communicating  directly  with  the  public 
road  by  the  lane  jp. 

The  kitchen  and  fruit  gardens  are  enclosed  on  three 
sides  by  hedges  of  the  'privet  ox  p'im,  a  rapid  growing 
plant  which  forms  a  thick  hedge  in  three  years,  has  neat 
foliage  and  flowers,  and  is  easily  cultivated  from  slips  or 
cuttings  planted  in  March  or  April.  These  verdant  fences 
will  scarcely  appear  barriers,  and  a  spectator  standing  on 
the  veranda  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  and  looking  over  the 
open,  oval  lawn  bordered  by  the  flower  borders,  and 
these  backed  by  the  deep  green  hedges,  would  scarcely 


112 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


be  impressed  with  that  idea  of  confinement  which  this 
moderate  space  would  otherwise  convey. 

A  detached  green-house  is  shown  at  r,  which,  hke  the 
dwelHng-house,  fronts  due  south.  This  green-house  is  14 
feet  wide  by  40  feet  long,  and  has  a  lean-to,  or  shed,  at  the 
rear,  which  affords  a  cover  for  the  furnace,  with  a  place 
for  fuel,  and  a  long  narrow  apartment  for  a  gardener's 
seed  room,  tool  room,  or  work  room,  the  latter  being  a 
place  absolutely  necessary  in  every  residence  of  the  size 
of  half  an  acre,  if  appropriated  to  ornamental  purposes. 
Not  only  the  front,  but  also  both  the  ends  of  this  green- 
house should  be  glazed,  as  the  sun  will  then,  in  the  course 
of  the  day,  shine  on  all  sides.  In  the  middle  or  eastern 
states,  where  the  winters  are  severe,  it  will  be  found  a 
great  economy  of  both  fuel  and  labor  to  have  light  shut- 
ters made  for  all  the  sashes  in  a  green-house  detached  like 
this  one.  When  the  sun  is  shining  the  shutters  can  be 
speedily  removed,  and  in  cold  dull  days,  and  at  night,  the 
glass  may  be  kept  covered,  which  will  prevent  the  house 
from  losing  its  heat  rapidly.  No  green-house  in  this 
country,  where  even  the  wintry  sun  is  brilliant,  will  require 
a  particle  of  fire  while  the  sun  shines,  and  by  the  aid  of 
shutters  we  may  preserve  the  warmth  of  the  green-house 
collected  during  the  afternoon,  through  a  considerable 
portion,  and  often  the  whole  of  the  night. 

The  hill  side  a,  in  its  original  state,  was  sprinkled  over 
with  trees,  tufts  of  grass,  ferns,  etc.,  and  was  disfigured 
by  the  presence  of  a  number  of  rough  piles  of  rock.  In 
order  to  render  them  ornamental,  a  quantity  of  hardy 
climbers,  as  the  Trumpet  vine,  (Bignonia,)  the  coral  or 
trumpet  Honeysuckles,  the  double  flowering  Bramble, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


113 


and  the  Virginia  creeper,  may  be  planted  at  the  foot  and 
among  these  rocks,  and  they  will  in  two  or  three  seasons 
render  them  highly  picturesque  by  enwreathing  them  with 
beautiful  garlands  of  foliage  and  flowers. 

As  the  lawn  will  be  a  great  source  of  beauty  in  all 
places  of  this  kind,  it  is  important  that  attention  should  be 
paid  to  this  feature  early  in  the  preparation  of  the  grounds. 
No  lawn  will  retain  its  freshness  and  verdure  throughout 
our  hot  summers,  unless  particular  attention  is  paid  to  two 
circumstances.  The  first  of  these  is  the  preparation  of  a 
deep  soil  before  it  is  sown,  or  laid  down  in  grass — the 
second  consists  in  frequent  mowings.  When  there  is  a 
large  surface  to  be  kept  in  lawn,  the  soil  may  be  rendered 
suitable  by  manuring,  and  ploughing  thoroughly  before- 
hand with  the  sub-soil  plough,  or  by  going  through  the 
same  furrow  three  times  in  ploughing  the  soil.  When  the 
area  is  small,  it  may  be  trenched  with  the  spade.  The  roots 
of  the  grasses  strike  much  deeper  in  a  mellow  prepared 
soil,  than  persons  are  generally  aware,  and  are  thereby 
enabled  to  withstand  a  severe  drought,  when,  if  sown  in 
the  ordinary  mode,  they  would  have  dried  up  and  the  fo- 
liage become  brown  in  a  short  time.  A  rich  soil  for  a  lawn 
is  not  desirable,  but  rather  a  deep  one,  capable  of  retaining 
moisture  for  a  long  time.  Wood  ashes  will  be  found  an 
excellent  top-dressing  for  invigorating  a  worn-out  lawn. 

Frequent  mowing  is  necessary  to  insure  that  velvet-like 
appearance  so  much  admired  in  English  lawns.  To  per- 
form this  operation  neatly,  the  mower  must  be  provided 
with  a  scythe  the  blade  of  which  is  very  broad,  and  hung 
nearly  parallel  to  the  surface  of  the  lawn  ;  and  the  mow- 
ing should  always  be  performed,  if  possible,  after  a  shower, 

14 


114: 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


or  a  heavy  dew,  while  the  grass  is  yet  damp.  The  best 
mixture  of  grass  seeds  ^in  use  among  us,  and  to  be  had 
at  our  seed  shops,  is  the  same  as  composes  the  natural 
growth  of  our  commons  and  the  turf  by  the  road  sides,  viz. 
Red  top,  and  white  Clover,  {Agrosiis  vulgaris  and  Trifo- 
Hum  reyens.)  They  should  be  sown  thickly  for  a  lawn,  at 
the  rate  of  four  bushels  to  the  acre.* 

The  five  circular  beds  are  supposed  to  be  each  10  or 
15  feet  in  diameter,  and  cut  in  the  turf.  It  is  proposed  to 
fill  these  with  plants,  each  bed  with  the  same  genus,  and 
cultivate  them  in  such  a  manner  that,  when  full  grown, 
they  shall  cover  the  whole  surface  of  the  bed.  They  will 
then  present  a  mass  of  rich  leaves  and  blossoms,  and  the 
raw  earth  not  being  seen,  these  beds  will  connect  them- 
selves much  more  harmoniously  with  the  surrounding  turf 
or  lawn,  than  if  only  partially  covered  with  plants.  No- 
thing is  more  unsightly  than  raw  flower  beds  near  the 
windows  of  the  house,  in  midsummer,  and  we  therefore 
greatly  prefer  the  beauty  of  a  few  rich  circles  or  groups 
like  these,  to  the  lean  and  parched  appearance  which  long 
beds  of  miscellaneous  flowers  exhibit  when  placed  in 
direct  proximity  to  the  dwelling. 

The  trailing  Verbenas  and  Petunias  are  very  showy 
plants,  blooming  perpetually  during  the  whole  season,  and 
are  therefore  admirably  adapted  to  this  purpose.  As  they 
will  not  stand  our  winters,  they  must  be  treated  as  annu- 
als ;  or  preserved  by  taking  small  plants  up  in  pots,  in 
autumn,  and  keeping  them  in  the  green-house  or  a  frame, 

*  Mr.  Loudon  recommends  the  following  mixture  of  grasses  for  a  lawn ;  viz. 
Agrosiis  vulgaris  vat.  tenuifolia,  Festtica  duriiiscula,  F.  avina,  Cynosoru  cristatus,  Poa 
prateusis,  Avenaflavescens,  and  Trifolium  minus. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


115 


planting  them  out  again  in  April, 
are  recommended. 

Verbenas  Tweediana,  grandiflora. 
chamedrifolia. 


The  following  varieties 


Petunia  phoenecia. 
Groomii. 
picia. 

ignescens.  striata. 
Mestoni.  Gem  Medora. 

superba.  grandiflora. 
Queen. 
Binneyana. 

A  great  number  of  beautiful  monthly  roses,  including 
the  Noisettes,  the  common  China,  or  Bengal,  and  the  Tea 
and  the  Bourbon  varieties  may  be  procured  in  the  nurse- 
ries. These  require  a  rich  loamy  soil,  where  they  will 
bloom  in  great  profusion  all  the  summer,  and  until  winter 
frosts  overtake  them.  The  Bourbon  roses  are  especially 
remarkable  for  the  size,  the  abundance,  fragrance,  and 
the  beauty  of  their  blossoms.  The  following  selection  in- 
cludes some  of  the  most  desirable  sorts,  all  everblooming 
or  monthly. 


BOURBON  ROSES. 

Madam  Desprez,  large  and  very 
double. 

General  Dubourg,  do.  very  fra- 
grant. 
Hermosa,  rose  coloured, 
he  Brun. 

Gloire  de  France,  or  Neumann. 
Queen,  rosy  fawn. 
Aristides,  bright  rose. 
Marshall  de  Villars,  purplish. 
Gloire  de  Rosamond. 
Bouquet  de  Flore,  carmine. 


NOISETTE  ROSES. 

Champney's  cluster,  blush. 
Airaee  Vibert,  pure  white. 
Fellemberg,  crimson. 
Cerise,  cherry  coloured. 
Conque  de  Venus,  delicate  blush. 
Jaune  Desprez,  creamy  blush. 
Lamarque,  pale  yellow. 
Smith's  yellow,  large  and  fragrant. 
Grandiflora,  large  blush. 
Sir  Walter  Scott,  purple. 
Superba,  pale  pink. 
Charles  the  X,  bright  red. 


116 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


BENGAL  ROSES. 


TEA  ROSES. 


Louis  Phillipe,  deep  crimson. 
Cramoisie  superieure,  very  rich. 
Agrippina,  beautiful. 
Double  White  Daily. 
Queen  of  Lombardy,  cherry  colour. 
Semperflorens,  or  Sanguinea. 
Roi  de  Cramoisies. 
Marjolin,  superb  dark  red. 
Admiral  de  Rigny. 


Odorata,  or  Common  blush  Tea. 


Alba,  or  white  Tea. 
Caroline,  fine  blush. 


Madam  Desprez,  white. 
Bourbon  white  Tea. 
Bougere,  bronzed  rose. 


Aurora,  pale  straw, 
Clara  Sylvian,  ^ne. 


Le  Pactole,  lemon,  yellow  centre. 


Nearly  all  the  varieties  of  China  Roses  may  be  cultivated  . 
in  the  open  air,  with  a  trifling  covering  of  straw  or  litter 
over  the  tops  in  winter,  to  prevent  their  being  injured  by 
sudden  thawing  after  severe  frosts. 

The  two  flower  borders  h,  being  each  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  will  contain  a  large  collection 
of  flowering  plants,  both  annuals  and  perennials.  The 
latter  being  more  permanent  and  more  showy,  are  to  be 
chiefly  employed,  but  small  spaces  should  be  left  at  inter- 
vals along  the  borders  to  allow  the  sowing  of  annuals,  as 
the  latter  bloom  profusely  during  midsummer  and  autumn, 
when  comparatively  few  perennials  are  in  flower.  We 
have  already  remarked  that,  in  order  to  attain  the  most 
beautiful  effect  from  such  flower  borders,  two  rules  must 
be  observed :  the  first  is,  to  arrange  the  plants  so  that  the 
taller  and  coarser  growing  shall  be  farthest  from  the  front 
of  the  border,  the  smallest  near  the  walk  ;  and  the  second, 
that  the  collection  should  consist  of  a  due  proportion  of 
plants  blooming  in  the  different  months  through  the  whole 
season.  As  to  perform  this,  will  perhaps  require  more 
knowledge  of  the  habits  of  herbaceous  plants  than  many 
of  our  readers  possess,  we  give  the  following  list  for  the 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


purpose  of  assisting  them  in  stocking  beds  of  this  descrip- 
tion so  as  to  produce  satisfactory  results. 

LIST  OF  PERENNIAL  BORDER  FLOWERS, 

Arranged  according  to  their  'period  of  blooming,  with  their 

height, 

FLOWERING  IN  APRIL. 

CLASS  I. 

From  6  to  12  inches  high. 

Anemone  thalictroides,  pi.    Double  wood  Anemone ;  white. 

Adonis  verualis.    Spring  flower  Adonis  ;  yellow. 

Corydalis  cucularia.    Breeches  flower  ;  white. 

Anemone  pulsaiilla.    Pasque  flower  ;  blue. 

Anemone  hepatica,  pi.    Double  Hepaticas  ;  blue. 

Viola  odorata,  pi.    Double  white  and  blue  European  violets. 

Omphalodes  vernxi.    Blue  Venus  Navelwort. 

Polemonium  reptans.    Greek  Valerian ;  blue. 

Phlox  stolonifera.    Creeping  Phlox  ;  red. 

Primula  veris.    The  Cowslip ;  yellow  and  red. 

Primula  polyantha.    The  polyanthus  ;  purple. 

Primula  auricula.    The  Auricala  ;  purple. 

Viola  tricolor.    Heart's  Ease  or  Pansy  ;  many  colours  and  sorts. 

Viola  grandiflora.    Purple  Pansy. 

Phlox  suhulata.    Moss  pink  Phlox. 

Phlox  nivea.    White  Moss  Pink. 

Gentiana  acaulis.    Dwarf  Gentian;  purple. 

CLASS  II. 

From  \to2  feet  high. 

Phlox  divaricata.    Early  purple  Phlox. 

Saxifraga  crassifolia.    Thick  leaved  Saxifrage  ;  lilac. 


118 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Dodecatheon  meadia.    American  Cowslip  ;  lilac. 
Pulmonaria  virginica.    Virginian  Lungwort ;  purple. 
Alyssum  saxatile.    Golden  Basket ;  yellow. 
Trollius  europeas.    European  Globe  flower ;  yellow. 

MAY. 

CLASS  I. 

From  6  io  12  inches  high. 

Veronica  gentianoides.    Gentian  leaved  Speedwell ;  blue. 
Jeffersonia  diphylla.    Two-leaved  JefFersonia  ;  white. 
Lysamachia  nummularia.    Trailing  Loose-strife ;  yellow. 
Convallaria  majalis.    Lily  of  the  Valley ;  white. 
Saponaria  ocymoides.    Basil-like  Soapwort ;  red. 
Phlox  pilosa.    Hairy  Phlox  ;  red. 
Honsionia  ccerulea.    Blue  Houstonia. 

CLASS  n. 

From  1  to2  feet  high. 

Coronilla  varia.    Changeable  Coronilla ;  pink. 
Pceonia  ienuifolia.    Fine-leaved  Pceony  ;  red. 
Corydalisformosa.    Showy  Corydalis  ;  red. 
Veronica  spicaia.    Blue-spiked  Speedwell. 
Pentstemon  ovaia.    Oval-leaved  Pentstemon  ;  blue. 
Pentstemon  atropurpureas.    Dark  purple  Pentstemon. 
Orohus  niger.    Dark  purple  Vetch. 
Anchusa  Italica.    Italian  Bugloss  ;  blue. 
Ranunculus  acris,  pi.    Double  Buttercups  ;  yellow. 
Tradescantia  virginica.    Blue  and  white  Spiderwort 
Rupinus polyphyllus.    Purple  Lupin. 
Iris  sibirica.    Siberian  Iris  ;  blue. 
Lupinus  Nootkaensis.    Nootka  Sound  Lupin;  blue. 
Hesperis  maironalis^  albo,  pi.    The  Double  White  Rocket. 
Phlox  suaveolens.    The  white  Phlox,  or  Lychnidea. 
Phlox  maculata.   The  purple  spotted  Phlox. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


119 


Lupinus  perennis  and  rivularis.    Perennial  Lupins  ;  blue. 
Lychnis  JloscucuU,  pi.    Double  Ragged-Robin ;  red. 
Aquilegia  canadensis.    Wild  Columbine  ;  scarlet. 

CLASS  III. 

2  feet  and  higher. 

Papaver  orientalis.    Oriental  scarlet  Poppy. 
Iris  jlorentina.    Florentine  Iris  ;  white. 
Pceonia  alhiflora.    Single  white  Poeony. 
Hemerocallis  flam.    The  yellow  Day-lily. 

JUNE. 

CLASS  I. 

From  6  io  12  inches  high. 

Potentilla  rosea.    The  Rose-coloured  Potentilla. 
Potentilla  mayeana.    Mayes'  Potentilla  ;  light  rose. 
Spirea  filipendula,  pi.    Double  Pride  of  the  Meadow  ;  white. 
Cypripedium pubescens.    Yellow  Indian  Moccasin. 
Viscaria  vulgaris,  pi.    White,  and  red  Viscaria. 
EschschoUzia  californica.    Golden  Eschscholtzia  ;  yellow. 
Lychins  fulgens.    Fulgent  Lychins  ;  red. 
Dianthus  chinensis.    Indian  Pinks  ;  variegated. 
Verbena  muliifida.    Cut-leaved  Verbena ;  purple. 
Verbena  Lamberii.    Lambert's  Verbena ;  purple. 
Iris  Susiana.    Chalcedonian  Iris  ;  mottled. 

CLASS  IL 

From  1  io  2  feet  high. 

Spirea  Lobata.    Siberian  spirea  ;  red. 
Spirea  Ulmaria,  pi.    Double  meadow  sweet ;  white. 
Delphinium  grandiflorum, pi.    Double  dark  blue  Larkspur. 
Delphinium  chinense,  pi.    Double  Chinese  Larkspur ;  blue. 
Dianthus  hortensis.    Garden  Pinks  ;  many  double  sorts  and  colours. 


120 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Caltha  palusiris,  pi    Double  Marsh  Marigold  ;  yellow. 
Polemonium  ccRvuleum,  and  album.    Common  white  and  blue  Greek 
Valerian. 

Campanula  per sicifolia,  pi.  Double  peach-leaved  Corapanula  ;  white. 
Antirhinum  majus.    Red  and  white  Snap  Dragons. 
Geranium  sanguineum.    Bloody  Geranium  ;  red. 
CEnothera  fruticosa.    Shrubby  Evening  Primrose  ;  yellow. 
Dianthus  caryophyllus.    The  Carnation  of  many  colours. 
Campanula  grandi/lora.    Large  blue  Bellflower. 
Clematis  integrifolia.    Austrian  blue  Clematis. 
Asphodelus  ramosus.    Branching  Asphodel ;  white. 
Pentsiemon  speciosa.    Showy  Pentstemon  ;  blue. 

CLASS  III. 

2  feet  and  higher. 

Aconitum  Napellus,  variegaia.    Purple-and-white  Monk's  Hood. 

Aconiium  Napellus.    Monk's  Hood  ;  purple. 

Campanula  rapunculoides.    Nodding  Bellflower  ;  blue. 

Verhascum  phcenecium.    Purple  Mullein. 

Clematis  erecta.    Upright  Clematis  ;  white. 

Linum  perenne.    Perennial  Flax ;  blue. 

Pceonia  Humei.    Double  blush  Poeony. 

PcBonia  fragrans.    Double  fragrant  Poeony  ;  rose. 

PcBonia  Whitleji.    Double  white  Poeony. 

Gaillardia  aristaia.    Bristly  Gaillardia  ;  yellow. 

JULY. 

CLASS  I. 

From  6  to  12  inches  high. 

Penistemon  Richardsonii.    Richardson's  Pentstemon  ;  purple. 
Pentstemon  pubescens.    Downy  Pentstemon  ;  lilac. 
Campanula  carpatica.    Carpathian  Bellflower  ;  blue. 
Sedum  populifolium.    Poplar-leaved  Sedum  ;  white. 
Dianthus  deltoides.    Mountain  Pink ;  red. 
Veronica  maritima.    Maritime  Speedwell ;  blue. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


121 


CLASS  II. 

From  I  to  2  feet  high. 
Pentstemon  campanulatum.   Bell-flowered  Pentstemon  ;  lilac. 
Pentstemon  speciosa.    Showy  Pentstemon  ;  red. 
Pentstemon  roseum.    Rose-coloured  Pentstemon. 
Monarda  didyma.    Lemon-scented  balm ;  scarlet. 
Potentilla  atrosanguinea.    Dark  red  Potentilla. 
Funkia  Sieboldii.   Lilac  Funkia. 
Coreopsis  Atkinsonia.    Atkinson's  Coreopsis ;  yellow. 
Aquilegia  glandulosa.    Glandular  Columbine  ;  striped. 
Phlox  Brownii.    Brown's  Phlox  ;  red. 
Dictamnus  Fraxinella.    Purple  Fraxinella. 
Dictamnus  alba.    White  Fraxinella. 
Anchusa  officinalis.    Common  Bugloss  ;  blue. 
CEnothera  Fraseri.    Fraser's  Evening  Primrose ;  yellow. 
CEnothera  macrocarpa.    Large  podded  Evening  Primrose  ;  yellow. 
Campanula  tracheliem^  pi.    Double  white,  and  blue  Bell  flowers. 
Potentilla  Russelliana.    Russell's  Cinquefoil ;  red. 
Delphinium  speciosum.    Showy  Larkspur  ;  blue. 
Campanula  macrantha.    Large  blue  Bell-flower. 
Chelone  Lyoni.    Purple  Chelone. 
Chelone  barbata.    Bearded  Chelone  ;  orange. 
Dracocephalum  grandi/lorum.    Dragon's  head ;  purple. 

CLASS  III. 

2  feet  and  higher. 

Delphinium  elatum.    Bee  Larkspur ;  blue. 

Pentstemon  digitalis.    Missouri  Pentstemon  ;  white. 

Hibiscus  palustris.    Swamp  Hibiscus  ;  red. 

Lychnis  Chalcedonica.    Single  and  double  scarlet  Lychnis. 

Lyihrum  latifolium.    Perennial  Pea ;  purpie. 

AUGUST. 

CLASS  L 

From  6  to  12  inches  high. 

Corydalis formosa.   Red  Fumitory. 

15 


122 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Phlox  carnea.    Flesh  coloured  Phlox. 
Lychius  coronata.    Chinese  orange  Lychnis. 

CLASS  II. 

From  \to2  feet  high. 

Geum  Quellyon.    Scarlet  Geura. 
Gaillardia  aristata.    Bearded  Gaillardia ;  yellow. 
Phlox  Alcordi.    Alcord's  Phlox  ;  purple. 
Catananche  cereulea.    Blue  Catananche. 
Asclepias  tuberosa.    Orange  Swallowort. 
Veronica  carnea.    Flesh-colored  Speedwell. 
Gaillardia  bicolor.    Orange  Gaillardia. 
Hemerocallisjaponica.    Japan  day-lily  ;  white. 
Dianihus  superb  us.    Superb  fringed  Pink;  white. 
Lobelia  cardinalis.    Cardinal  flower  ;  red. 
Lythrum  Salicaria.    Willow  Herb  ;  purple. 
LiatTis  squarrosa.    Blazing  Star  ;  blue. 
Coreopsis  temifolia.    Five-leaved  Coreopsis  ;  yellow. 

CLASS  III. 

2  feet  and  higher. 

Campanula pyramidalis.    The  pyramidal  Bell-flower  ;  blue  and  white. 

Yucca  filamentosa.    Adam's  thread  ;  white. 

Yucca  Jlaccida.    Flaccid  Yucca  ;  white." 

Phlox  panicalata.    Panicled  phlox  ;  purple  and  white. 

Epilobium  spicatum.    Purple  spiked  Epilobium. 

Cassia  Marylandica.    Maryland  Cassia;  yellow. 

SEPTEMBER  AND  OCTOBER. 

CLASS  I. 

From  6  ^0  12  inches  high. 

Achillea  Ptarmica,  pi.    Double  Milfoil ;  white. 
Aster  linifolius.    Fine-leaved  Aster  ;  white. 
Gentiana  Saponaria.    Soapwort  Gentian  ;  blue. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


123 


CLASS  II. 

From  1  to  2  feet  high. 

Coreopsis  grandijlora.    Large  yellow  Coreopsis. 
Eupatorium  ccelestinum.    Azure  blue  Eupatorium. 
Phlox  Wheeleriana.    Wheeler's  Phlox ;  red. 

CLASS  m. 

2  feet  and  higher. 

Aster  macrophyllas.    Broad-leaved  Aster  ;  white. 
Eupatorium  aromaticum.    Fragrant  Eupatorium  ;  white. 
Liaius  elegans.    Elegant  Blazing  Star  ;  purple. 
Liatris  spicaia  and  scariosa.    Blue  Blazing  Stars. 
Aster  novcB-anglicc.    New-England  Aster ;  purple. 
Echtnops  ritro.    Globe  thistle  ;  blue. 

Chrysanthemum  indicum.    Artemesias,  many  sorts  and  colors. 


124 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


DESIGN  VI. 

An  irregular  villa  in  the  Italian  style.,  BracTcetted. 

This  design  shows  a  villa  in  the  Italian  style  of  mode- 
rate size.  It  is  highly  irregular,  and  while  it  will,  on  ac- 
count of  the  greater  picturesqueness  and  variety  growing 
out  of  this  circumstance,  be  much  more  pleasing  to  a  por- 
tion of  our  readers,  a  great  number  of  persons,  who  only 
judge  of  a  dwelling-house  by  a  common-sense  standard, 
will  probably  prefer  a  more  regular  and  uniform  building, 
like  one  of  the  previous  designs.  The  latter  class  will  find 
no  good  reason  for  any  extra  cost  incurred  in  creating  an 
irregular  villa  like  this,  as  a  more  regular  one  would  afford 
the  same  comfort  and  convenience  ;  but  persons  who  have 
cultivated  a  architectural  taste,  and  who  relish  the  higher 
beauties  of  the  art  growing  out  of  variety,  will  give  a  great 
preference  to  a  design  capable  of  awakening  more  strongly 
emotions  of  the  beautiful,  or  picturesque,  as  well  as  the 
useful,  or  convenient.  We  might  illustrate  the  natural 
progress  in  taste  in  the  fine  arts,  which  all  persons  make, 
and  their  relative  capacity  of  enjoying  different  degrees  of 
art,  by  a  familiar  example  drawn  from  music.  Most  per- 
sons, having  an  ear  for  music,  but  who  have  never  culti- 
vated a  taste  for  it,  will  be  found  greatly  to  prefer  simple 
airs,  because  the  simple  rythm  of  melody  is  distinct  and 
easily  understood  ;  the  more  intricate  beauties  of  harmony 
abounding  in  fine  musical  compositions,  are  only  intensely 


D  E  S  I  G  N  VI. 

L  VILLA  IN  THE  ITALIAN  STYLE,  BRACKETED, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES.  125 

felt  and  enjoyed  when  our  perceptions  are  enlarged  and 
heightened  by  education. 

The  Italian  mode  is  capable  of  displaying  a  rich  do- 
mestic character  in  its  balconies,  verandas,  ornamental 
porches,  terraces,  etc.  The  square  tower,  or  campanile,  is 
a  prominent  feature  in  villas  in  this  style,  and  frequently 
confers  on  the  Italian  compositions  a  character  of  great 
boldness  and  dignity.  The  projecting  roof,  and  the  round- 
arched  window,  are  also  characteristic  features. 

The  present  design  is  intended  for  a  situation  where  it 
is  desired  to  preserve  the  whole  of  the  fine  view  from  the 
windows  of  the  drawing-room  unobstructed,  and  the  en- 
trance front  is  accordingly  made  on  the  adjoining  side. 
After  reaching  the  porch,  see  Fig.  49,  we  enter  the  vesti- 
bule which  occupies  the  lower  floor  of  the  tower,  and  from 
thence  the  hall,  leading  through  the  building  and  termi- 
nating in  a  back  porch  of  one  story  in  height.  Adjoining 
the  latter  is  a  closet  for  stores. 

On  the  left  of  this  hall  is  an  elegant  drawing-room,  20 
by  24  feet,  connected  with  a  library  20  by  16  feet.  At 
either  extremity  of  these  rooms  is  a  handsome  projecting 
window  in  the  Italian  mode,  giving  an  air  of  dignity  to  the 
apartments,  and  in  front  are  three  casement  windows 
opening  to  the  floor  of  the  veranda,  both  for  the  purpose 
of  allowing  an  uninterrupted  view,  and  afibrding  easy 
communication. 

On  the  right  of  the  hall  is  the  dining-room,  20  by  16 
feet.  A  pantry  or  store-room,  8  by  10  feet,  opens  into 
this  room.  In  front  is  a  pretty  little  terrace,  ornamented 
with  a  few  vases  of  terra  cotta,  or  artificial  stone.* 

*  Handsome  vases  for  this  purpose  may  be  obtained  at  Gibson's  Warehouse,  Pearl- 
street,  or  at  the  Salamander  Works,  Cannon-street,  New- York. 


1 

26 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


1  ROOF 

/ 

CHAMBER  FLOOR 


[Fig.  50.] 


The  chamber  floor  of  this  design  shows  three  bedrooms, 
20  by  16  feet,  each  with  a  pleasant  balcony  at  one  of  its 
windows ;  and  two  smaller  bedrooms.  In  the  attic  story 
are  three  bedrooms  for  servants,  lighted  by  the  windows 
shown  in  the  gables.  From  the  attic  a  small  staircase 
leads  through  the  half  story  (with  square  windows,)  to  the 
upper  story  of  the  campanile  or  tower,  whence  an  extensive 
prospect  of  the  country  for  many  miles  round  is  enjoyed. 

The  kitchen  of  this  villa  is  placed  beneath  the  dining- 
room  ;  and  ample  cellerage,  wine,  and  store-rooms,  are 
obtained  under  the  main  body  of  the  house,  at  the  other 
side  of  the  hall. 

The  fanciful  and  convenient  window  shades,  or  cano- 
pies, occasionally  employed  in  this  style,  may  be  made  of 
canvass  supported  by  a  light  iron  frame,  or  of  light  wood 
painted  to  resemble  an  awning.  Handsome  striped  Italian 
canvass,  for  this  purpose,  may  now  be  had  in  New- York. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


127 


A  building  in  this  style  will  be  greatly  heightened  in 
effect  by  being  well  supported  by  trees,  the  irregular 
forms  of  which  will  harmonize  with  the  character  of  the 
architecture.  A  Lombardy  poplar  or  two,  judiciously  in- 
troduced in  the  midst  of  groups  of  round-headed  trees,  will 
have  a  happy  effect.  The  beautiful  wooded  situations  on 
the  banks  of  our  fine  rivers  are,  many  of  them,  admirably 
suited  for  an  Italian  villa  of  this  kind. 

Construction,  We  have  supposed  this  villa  to  be  built 
of  wood,  the  bracketted  construction  giving  it  a  character 
of  lightness,  but  the  effect  would  be  even  better  if  built 
of  more  solid  materials,  and  brick-and-stucco  well  con- 
structed would  be  very 
durable  under  the  shelter 
of  the  broadly  projecting 
roof.  The  forms  of  brack- 
ets given  in  Fig.  44,  of  our 
last  design,  are  equally 
suitable  here,  d,  being  the 
bracket  for  the  eaves  in 
front.  A  portion  of  the 
veranda  is  shown  in  Fig. 
[Fig.  51.]       ^  51.    In  this,  the  upright 

columns  enclosing  the  lattice  are  supposed  to  be  octagonal, 
and  four  inches  in  diameter,  the  lattice  itself  being  much 
heavier  and  more  durable  than  it  is  usually  made.  Its 
ceiling  is  made  of  beaded  and  planed  stuff  forming  also 
the  roof,  and  the  rafters  are  in  like  manner  beaded  and 
plainly  shown.  The  chimney  tops  of  the  main  building 
should  come  out  at  the  ridge  of  the  roof,  which  will  be 
effected  by  drawing  over  the  stacks  in  the  garret.  The 


128 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


roof  should  project  at  least  three  feet  on  every  side.  The 
principal  story  should  be  13  feet  high  in  the  clear  and  the 
chamber  story  10  feet. 

Estimate.  The  cost  of  this  villa,  handsomely  finished, 
will  be  about  $6800. 

LAYING  OUT  THE  GROUNDS. 

The  grounds  attached  to  this  villa,  are  supposed  to  be 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  extent,  and  we  have 
therefore  been  able  to  represent  in  the  annexed  engraving. 
Fig.  52,  only  a  small  part  containing  the  house,  and  the 
more  ornamental  portion  bordering  the  river.  The  house 
is  situated  on  a  plateau  elevated  about  80  feet  above  the 
river,  and  the  ground  falls  off  somewhat  rapidly  from  this 
level  along  the  river  bank  and  in  the  direction  indicated 
by  the  waved  lines  a. 

The  approach  Z>,  leads  to  the  house  c,  in  gently  curved 
lines,  and  from  thence  to  the  stable,  and  other  outbuild- 
ings d.  There  is  a  large  orchard,  a  small  part  of  which  is 
seen  at  e,  the  kitchen  garden  is  located  at /,  and  at  ^  is  a 
bathing  house,  on  the  river  bank. 

This  place,  like  a  great  many  in  this  country  of  its  cha- 
racter, we  will  suppose  to  possess  a  richly  wooded,  hanging 
bank  on  its  river  side.  This  will  afford  us  a  fine  opportu- 
nity to  create  a  most  agreeable  series  of  walks  i.  These 
walks  may  be  conducted  in  easy  directions,  through  the 
wood,  and  along  the  bank,  occasionally  intersecting  each 
other.  They  may  often  approach  each  other  very  near 
without  being  visible  one  from  the  other,  in  consequence 
of  the  thickness  of  the  foliage  in  some  places,  or  the  irre- 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


129 


[Fig.  52.] 


gularity  of  the  surface  in  others.  They  will  be  full  of  va- 
riety— now  leading  to  a  point  where  a  lovely  view  sud- 
denly bursts  upon  us,  and  again  plunging  into  a  secluded 
portion,  where  the  dense  foliage  of  evergreens  shuts  out 
all  other  objects,  and  give  a  quiet  and  secluded  charac- 

16 


130 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


ter  to  the  scene. 
Rustic  seats,  Fig. 
53,  placed  here 
and  there  in  the 
most  inviting  spots, 
[Fig.  53.]  will  both  heighten 

the  charm,  and  enable  us  to  enjoy  at  leisure  the  quiet  beau- 
ty around.  A  very  great  advantage  which  walks  made  in 
such  a  situation  have,  is,  the  trifling  care  and  expense  ne- 
cessary to  preserve  them  in  order.  But  few  weeds  grow 
in  the  shade  of  large  forest  trees,  and  the  character  of  the 
place  renders  it  unnecessary  that  the  walks  should  have  a 
very  trim  and  neat  appearance.  The  repose,  the  variety, 
and  the  beauty  of  a  series  of  walks  of  this  kind  in  several 
places  that  we  could  name,  created  with  very  trifling 
trouble,  render  them,  in  our  opinion,  far  more  delightful 
than  twice  the  same  distance  of  walks  in  a  common  level 
flower  garden. 

These  walks  commence  at  the  veranda  at  A,  and  form 
a  connected  promenade  terminating  at  the  other  end  of  the 
veranda  at  h  Near  the  house,  in  the  space  commanded 
by  the  drawing-room  and  library  windows,  are  some  bor- 
ders of  handsome  flowering  plants  I,  At  least  the  oval 
area  of  lawn  m,  and  the  space  between  the  porch  and 
where  the  ground  descends  at  a,  should  be  kept  constantly 
mown,  and  in  the  highest  order,  so  as  to  heighten,  and  ren- 
der more  forcible  by  contrast,  the  wilder  and  more  pic- 
turesque beauty  of  the  sylvan  walks  L 

A  turfed  area  for  bleaching  and  drying  clothes  is  set 
apart  and  concealed  by  shrubbery  at  n. 

When  a  situation  like  this  is  selected  for  a  villa  resi- 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


131 


dence,  with  a  bank  richly  clothed  by  a  natural  growth  of 
forest  trees,  and  with,  perhaps,  scattered  groups  of  large 
trees  here  and  there  elsewhere,  the  art  of  the  improver 
should  lie  in  harmonising  all  his  improvements  with  the 
main  features  of  the  place  already  existing.  Almost  every 
place  of  this  kind  has  a  natural  character  of  dignity,  or 
picturesqueness,  derived  from  the  rich  banks  of  wood,  the 
noble  river,  and  the  finely  undulating  surface,  which  must 
be  kept  in  view  in  all  embellishments.  The  trees  which 
are  planted  in  the  larger  breadths  of  lawn  should  be  elms, 
oaks,  horse-chestnuts,  and  maples,  or  other  species  of  large 
growth,  so  that  they  may  correspond  in  expression,  when 
somewhat  grown,  with  those  already  existing.  No  formal 
avenues,  or  straight  lines,  should  be  planted,  to  raise  a 
discordant  expression  when  viewed  in  the  same  coup  d'ceil 
with  the  existing  groups  and  masses  of  fohage ;  and  the 
larger  breadths  of  lawn  at  a  distance  from  the  windows  of 
the  house,  should  not  be  broken  up  by  any  frippery  walks 
or  parterres  which  might  detract  from  the  breadth  and 
simplicity  of  the  scene.  In  a  place  where  there  is  a  cha- 
racter of  dignity  and  simplicity  arising  from  extensive 
prospect,  large  and  lofty  trees,  and  considerable  breadth 
of  lawn,  we  should  be  extremely  cautious  about  introdu- 
cing too  much  of  the  little  details  of  flower  garden  or 
shrubbery  ornaments  in  the  fore-ground,  lest  they  should 
degrade  or  weaken  the  original  and  higher  character  of  the 
scene.  We  should  rather  place  the  latter  in  a  more  se- 
cluded spot,  where  they  will  form  objects  of  beauty  to  be 
considered  entirely  by  themselves,  and  not  in  connection 
with  other  objects.  For  this  reason  it  will  be  seen  that  we 
have  in  this  plan  and  a  previous  one,  confined  the  flower- 


132 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


ing  plants  to  three  or  four  beds  cut  in  the  turf  near  the 
drawing-room  windows  of  the  house. 

The  orchard  and  fruit  garden.  A  small  portion  of  the 
orchard  appears  on  the  plan,  but  as  we  have  supposed, 
a  place  of  this  size  to  have  a  large  and  well  stocked  or- 
chard and  fruit  garden,  we  shall  here  give  a  list  of  supe- 
rior fruits,  which  having  been  tested,  are  known  to  be  of 
first-rate  excellence  in  the  climate  of  the  Middle  States. 
A  fine  orchard  and  fruit  garden,  producing  an  abundant 
supply  of  fruit  at  all  seasons,  is  one  of  the  greatest  sources 
of  enjoyment  in  a  country  life  ;  and  when  we  consider  how 
easily  good  fruit  is  generally  obtained  in  this  country, 
without  the  aid  of  walls  or  any  thing  more  than  a  mode- 
rate degree  of  attention,  it  would  certainly  appear  a  matter 
of  just  reproach,  wherever  there  is  sufficient  room,  not  to 
have  a  first  rate  collection  of  fruit. 

Horticulture,  but  more  especially  pomology — that  branch 
of  it  devoted  to  fruits — has  received  so  much  attention  both 
in  Europe  and  at  home,  that  within  the  last  20  years  the 
number  of  delicious  fruits  capable  of  being  raised  in  the 
open  air  has  been  more  than  trebled.  The  Pear,  espe- 
cially, has  been  greatly  improved  and  ameliorated,  and  has 
indeed  taken  the  first  rank  among  dessert  fruits,  in  consi- 
deration of  the  variety  in  flavour,  time  of  ripening,  dura- 
tion and  beauty  of  the  numerous  sorts.  The  late  autumn 
and  winter  varieties  are  a  very  valuable  acquisition  to  our 
dessert  at  these  seasons.  Added  to  this,  many  of  the 
new  sorts  come  into  fruit  at  one  half  or  one  fourth  the  age 
necessary  to  the  bearing  of  the  older  kinds. 

Where  a  variety  of  soils  occur,  as  is  frequently  the  case 
in  a  large  orchard,  it  is  well  to  know  those  peculiarly 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


133 


adapted  to  each  fruit  tree.  Apples  are  found  to  thrive 
best  in  a  strong  deep  loam,  if  stony  it  is  preferable ;  pears 
and  cherries,  in  a  mellow,  gravelly  loam  :  plums  in  a  strong 
clayey  loam,  and  peaches  in  a  light  sandy  loam.  Apples 
may  be  planted  in  an  orchard  at  from  30  to  45  feet  apart ; 
cherries  and  pears,  from  25  to  30  feet;  peaches  and 
plums,  from  20  to  25  feet.  In  transplanting  all  fruit  trees 
be  mindful  not  to  commit  the  common  error  of  setting 
them  too  deei^, 

LIST  OF  THE  FINEST  VARIETIES  OF  FRUIT. 

For  the  Orchard  and  Fruit  Garden, 


CHEERIES. 

PLUMS. 

Early  White  Heart. 

Early  Scarlet,  or  Cherry  Plum, 

Knight's  Early  Black,  fruit  large 

very  early. 

and  fine. 

Morocco,  early. 

Mayduke,j/?ne  for  the  table  and 

Apricot,  do. 

for  cooking. 

Green  Gage. 

Black  Tartarian,  large  and  of  fine 

Imperial,  or  Flushing  Gage,  a  fine 

quality. 

and  productive  sort. 

Black  Eagle. 

Coe's  Golden  Drop,  handsome, 

Bigarreau,  or  Graffion,  large  and 

very  late  and  excellent. 

delicious. 

Coe's  late  Red,^7ze  and  productive. 

Napoleon  Bigarrieu,  white  and 

Bleeker's  Gage. 

blush,  fine. 

Jefferson,  yellow,  large  and  fine. 

Downton. 

Bleeker's  Scarlet. 

Downer's  Red,  late  and  delicious. 

La  Royal,  delicious. 

Holland  Biggarreau. 

Orleans. 

Carnation,  valuable  for  preserving. 

Nectarine. 

Transparent. 

Washington,  excellent. 

Belle  de  Choisey,  fin£. 

Huling's  Superb,  large. 

Elton,  handsome  and  fine. 

Magnum  bonum,  or  Egg  Plum, 

Late  Duke. 

for  preserving. 

Morella. 

Emerald  Drop, 

134 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Smith's  Orleans. 
Violet  Imperatrice. 
German  Prune. 
Purple  Gage. 

Autumn  Gage,  late  and  fine. 
Lucombe's  Nonsuch. 
Late  Damson. 

PEACHES. 

■Early  White  and  Early  Red. 
Nutmeg. 

Early  Royal  George. 
George  the  IV.,  very  fine. 
Morris  White  Rareripe. 
Red  Rareripe. 
Yellow  Rareripe,  delicious. 
Snow  Peach,  handsome. 
Red  cheek  Malecaton. 
Brevoort's  Morris,  ^ne. 
Columbia. 
Kenrick's  Heath. 
Lemon  Cling. 
Large  White  Cling. 
Early  Newington. 
Large  Early  York. 
President. 
White  Imperial. 

APRICOTS. 

Moorpark,  one  of  the  very  best  sorts. 
Large  Early,  excellent. 
Turkey,  sure  bearer. 
Breda. 


PEAKS. 

1.  Early  varieties. 
Madeleine,  early  and  good. 
Bloodgood's  Early,  excellent. 
Dearborn's  Seedling. 
Muscadine,  good  and  abundant 

bearer. 

Bartlett,  or  Williams'  Bonchretein, 
large  and  delicious. 

2.  Medium  period. 
St.  Ghislain,  delicious. 
Seeks],  first  quality. 

*St.  Michael,  or  Virgalien. 
Belle  et  Bonne. 
Golden  Beuree  of  Bilboa. 
*Brown  do. 

*Gansers  Bergamot,  excellent. 
Capiumont,  fine  and  productive. 
Frederick  of  Wurtemberg,  hand- 
some. 
Henry  the  IV. 
Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey. 
Marie  Louise,  delicious. 
Napoleon,  y^icy  and  pleasant. 
Urbaniste,  excellent. 
Beuree  Bosc. 
Dix. 

Compte  de  Lamay,  excellent. 
Thompson's. 
Bezi  de  la  Motte. 
Beuree  d'Amalis. 

3.  Late  varieties  from  Nov.  to  May. 
Beuree  Diel,  large  and  good. 


*  These  sorts,  although  fine  in  the  interior,  do  not  succeed  so  well  near  the  sea- 
coast. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


135 


Dutchess  d'Angouleme,  large  and 

very  fine. 
Passe  Colmar. 
Glout  Morceaux. 
Beuree  Easter. 

do.    d'Areraberg,  very  fine. 

do.  Rans. 
Lewis. 

*St.  Germain,  an  old  hut  valuable 
sort. 

Surpasse  Virgalieu. 
Columbian. 
Wilkinson. 
Winter  Nelis. 

NECTAEINES. 

Early  Violet,  good  and  productive. 

Perkin's  Seedling. 

Red  Roman. 

Scarlet,  very  handsome. 

APPLES. 

Many  of  the  best  winter  varieties 
are  enumerated  at  page  98 ;  the  fol- 
lowing are  choice  dessert  fruits. 


Red  Astrachan,  a  very  beautiful  and 

early  sort. 
Yellow  Harvest,  large  and  excellent. 
Strawberry  Apple. 
Early  Red  Margaret,  a  fine  sort. 
Sine  qua  non. 

William's  Favorite,  beautiful. 
Downton,  an  English  golden  pippin. 
Lady  Apple,  beautiful  dessert  fruit. 
Jonathan,  tender  flesh  and  excellent. 
Ladies'  Sweeting,  j'lTie. 
Ross  Nonpareil,  high  flavor. 
Esopus  Spitzenburgh. 
Green  Newtown  Pippin. 
Yellow  Bellflower,  handsome  and 

good. 
Scarlet  Pearmain. 
Baldwin,  excellent. 
Porter. 
Fameuse. 

Sops  of  Wine,  early  and  handsome. 
Hawthorndon. 

Rhode  Island  Greening,  excellent. 
Fall  Pippin. 


In  addition  to  these,  we  would  recommend  some  of  the 
smaller  fruits  of  choice  varieties.  The  Isabella  and  Cataw- 
ba grapes,  and  some  of  the  hardier  foreign  sorts,  as  the 
Black  Hamburgh,  Chapelas,  Black  Cluster  and  White  Mus- 
cadine ;  the  large  Red  and  the  White  Antwerp,  Raspberries ; 
the  Early  or  Grove  Scarlet,  Hovey's  Hudson,  and  Ross' 
Phoenix  Strawberries ;  the  frizzled,  and  prolific  English 


*  These  sorts,  although  fine  in  the  interior,  do  not  succeed  so  well  near  the  sea- 
coast. 


136 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


Filberts,  and  the  large  White  and  Red  Dutch  Currants, 
may  all  be  named  as  indispensable  in  every  fruit  garden. 

In  the  cultivation  of  fruits  but  little  difficulty  will  be 
experienced  if  a  keen  watch  is  kept  on  insects,  destroying 
every  appearance  of  a  nest,  brood,  or  swarm,  as  soon  as  it 
makes  its  appearance.  One  man  may  often  do  more  to 
subdue  and  exterminate  a  troublesome  insect  in  an  hour 
or  two,  when  it  first  appears,  than  a  host  of  men  would 
after  it  has  had  time  to  multiply,  as  it  often  will  in  a  week 
by  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands. 

In  the  case  of  the  peach  tree,  examine  the  trees  at  the 
root  every  spring  and  autumn,  and  take  out  the  peach 
worm,  before  it  girdles  the  tree,  with  your  knife ;  and  de- 
stroy every  sickly  looking  tree,  especially  every  old  one, 
on  your  premises  the  moment  it  becomes  fairly  diseased — 
the  Yellows,  to  which  this  fruit  tree  is  liable,  being  a  conta- 
gious disease,  spreading  from  tree  to  tree,  so  that  it  is  quite 
needless  to  plant  healthy  young  trees  where  old  ones  are 
suffered  to  stand  in  their  neighborhood.  This  fact  alone 
when  understood  is  sufficient  to  solve  all  the  apparent 
difficulties  in  cultivating  this  fruit  of  late  years. 

The  Tcnots,  to  which  the  Plum  is  liable  in  some  districts, 
are  caused  by  an  insect,  and  the  limbs  infected  with  them 
should  be  cut  off  and  burned  early  in  the  spring.  If  the 
fruit  fall  from  the  tree  prematurely,  it  is  probably  caused 
by  the  sting  of  the  curculio,  and  the  remedy  lies  in  de- 
stroying all  the  curculio  for  the  next  season  by  gathering 
the  fruit  as  soon  as  it  falls,  (which  contains  the  lavrae,) 
and  throwing  it  into  the  hog-pen ;  or  in  planting  your 
stone  fruits  in  an  enclosure  by  themselves,  and  letting  the 
swine  run  in  it  during  the  season  when  the  green  fruit  is 
falling- 


D  ES  I  G  N   V  I  I. 

AN  IRREGULAR  COTTAGE  IN  THE  OLD  ENGLISH  STYLE. 


Fig.  56. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


137 


DESIGN  VII. 

An  irregular  cottage^  in  the  old  English  style. 

The  situation  for  this  cottage  may  be  in  a  richly  wooded 
plain,  or  a  sequestered  valley.  It  belongs  to  that  class  of 
richly  decorated,  rural  Gothic  edifices,  abounding  in  carved 
verge  boards  and  pendants,  clustered  chimney  tops,  and 
irregular  outlines.  There  is  something  of  grotesqueness, 
or  at  least  fantastic  richness  in  its  details — something  indi- 
cating a  certain  license  of  architectural  imagination,  not 
to  be  precisely  measured  by  the  standard  of  the  rule  and 
square,  or  the  strictly  utilitarian  view.  Now  a  cottage  of 
this  class  must  not,  in  any  case,  be  erected  on  a  bare  plain, 
or  even  one  comparatively  so,  as  in  such  a  place  all  its  pic- 
turesqueness  would  seem  out  of  keeping — unmeaning — 
and  absurd.  But  let  it  be  partially  hidden,  or  half  con- 
cealed by  clustering  foliage,  and  assimilated,  as  it  were, 
with  nature,  by  the  interlacing  and  entwining  branches 
and  boughs  around  it,  and  of  which  its  ornaments  are  in 
some  degree  a  repetition,  and  we  shall  feel  it  to  be  in  per- 
fect unison  with  its  situation.  Whoever  has  seen  one  of 
these  cottages,  with  its  rich  gables  breaking  out  from  among 
the  intricacy  of  tall  stems,  and  shadowy  foliage,  will 
readily  confess  that  he  has  rarely  beheld  any  thing  more 
harmonious  and  delightful,  than  the  charming  effect  thereby 
produced. 

Some  one  has  truly  remarked  that  the  architecture  of 

17 


138 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


our  dwellings  is  most  appropriate,  when  it  embodies  and 
breathes  forth  a  liome  expression;  a  character  to  which  we 
think  the  rural  Gothic,  with  its  quaint,  independent,  com- 
fortable, and  extended  air,  seems  fully  to  lay  claim. 

In  arranging  the  plan  of  the  interior  of  this  cottage.  Fig. 
56,  we  have  had  convenience,  as  well  as  elegance,  in  our 
mind.  The  neat  porch  which  shelters  the  front  door,  is 
provided  with  suitable  seats  on  either  side,  which  should  be 
made  to  correspond  with  the  architecture.  On  opening 
this  door  we  find  ourselves  in  the  vestibule,  or  entrance- 
hall.  This  we  shall  suppose  fitted  up  with  a  dado  or  base, 
three  and  a  half  feet  high,  of  wood  grained  in  imitation  of 
oak  or  black  walnut,  and  the  walls  painted  of  some  grave 
color,  to  give  greater  effect  to  the  rooms.  The  vestibule 
opens  on  the  left  into  a  pleasant  little  room,  12  by  18  feet, 
which  may  be  devoted  to  a  study,  or  library,  and  neatly 
fitted  up  with  book-cases.  In  building,  it  wdll  be  found 
that  recesses  may  be  left  in  the  walls  for  these  book-cases, 
so  that  they  will  occupy  but  little  space  in  the  apartment. 
On  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall  is  the  living  or  dining-room, 
17  by  18  feet.  This  room  is  lighted  by  one  of  the  large, 
square,  mullioned  windows,  so  common  in  the  old  English 
houses,  which  should  be  finished  on  the  inside  with  a 
window-seat.  A  china  closet  is  made  on  the  right  of  the 
chimney  breast  in  this  room,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the 
hall  are  a  pantry  and  a  store-room,  of  good  size,  very  con- 
veniently disposed. 

The  dining-room  communicates  with  the  parlour  or 
drawing-room  on  its  right.  This  drawing-room  is,  of 
course,  the  finest  room  in  size,  aspect,  and  proportion,  in 
the  house,  being  22  by  19  feet,  with  a  fine  semi- 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


139 


hexagon  bay,  which,  projecting  boldly,  will  give  three  dis- 
tinct views  to  a  person  standing  within  it.  We  would 
have  the  ceilings  of  this  and  the  dining-room  ribbed,  and 
perhaps  slightly  arched,  in  the  form  of  two  inclined 
planes,  rising  8  or  10  inches  from  the  side  walls,  to  the 
highest  part  of  the  ceiling.  The  wood-work  of  the  whole 
of  this  story  should  be  finished  simply  and  consistently, 
that  is,  with  suitable  Gothic  mouldings,  and  the  whole 
should  be  painted  and  grained  in  imitation  of  oak,  or  of 
black  walnut.  The  effect  of  the  rooms  will  be  still  more 
pleasing,  if  the  walls  are  colored  some  harmonious  neutral 
tint.*  The  furniture  should  be  in  strict  character  with 
the  style  of  the  house,  which  may  be  easily  attained, 
without  any  additional  expense,  by  choosing  simple  and 
suitable  forms. 

At  the  end  of  the  hall  leading  to  the  drawing-room,  is  a 
bedroom,  19  by  13  feet,  with  a  closet.  This  would  make 
a  convenient  bedroom  for  the  master  and  mistress  of  the 
house.  Adjoining  it  is  a  dressing-room,  which,  if  neatly 
and  tastefully  fitted  up  with  every  thing  appertaining  to  a 
lady's  toilet,  will  give  this  bedroom  a  highly  comfortable 
and  refined  air. 

The  staircase  is  placed  at  the  other  extrernity  of  this 
hall,  and  it  may  be  made  more  private  Or  secluded,  if  it 
is  thought  desirable,  by  an  oaken  screen  of  open  wood- 

*  We  take  pleasure  in  recommending  to  those  who  wish  to  fit  up  the  interior  of  a 
cottage  or  villa  beautifully,  Mr.  George  Piatt,  decorative  artist,  12  Spruce-street,  New- 
York.  The  great  variety  of  ornaments  in  the  different  styles,  to  be  found  at  his 
warehouse,  and  the  correct  taste  and  skill  with  wliich  they  are  applied  by  him  to 
the  decoration  of  apartments,  fully  entitle  him  to  the  ample  patronage  which  he 
now  receives. 


140 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


work.  Under  this  staircase  is  constructed  a  descending 
flight  leading  to  the  cellar. 

On  the  sides  of  the  passage  leading  from  the  hall  to 
the  kitchen,  are  the  pantry,  the  larder,  and  the  store-room. 
By  placing  these  most  useful  and  convenient  appendages 
in  this  position,  we  not  only  make  them  at  once  easily 
accessible  from  the  kitchen  or  the  dining-room,  but  we 
also  remove  the  kitchen,  with  its  concomitant  noises  and 
odours,  at  some  distance  from  the  main  hall,  and  these  may 
be  still  further  lessened  in  effect,  by  having  a  door  at  both 
ends  of  this  passage,  to  be  shut  when  required. 

The  kitchen  itself  is  16  feet  square  ;  it  is  amply  lighted 
and  ventilated,  and  communicates  directly  with  the  open 
air,  by  the  passage  at  the  further  side.  In  this  passage  is 
a  servant's  staircase,  communicating  with  the  apartments 
in  the  chamber  story. 

The  chamber  story  contains  abundant  accommodation 


[Fig.  57.] 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


141 


for  a  cottage.  There  are  three  handsome  bedrooms,  and 
two  of  a  smaller  size.  That  over  the  drawing-room  being 
the  largest,  and  the  most  beautiful  in  form,  may  be  kept 
as  the  "  state  bedroom,"  being  fitted  up  with  all  the  appli- 
ances of  comfort  in  its  furniture  and  fixtures.  The  little 
room  over  the  porch  will  make  a  delightful  room  for  a 
bachelor,  or  if  one  of  the  young  ladies  takes  a  fancy  to  it, 
it  will  make  a  little  hijou  of  a  boudoir,  the  oriel  window 
giving  a  character  of  novelty  and  beauty  to  the  whole 
apartment.  On  the  second  floor  of  the  kitchen  wing  are  a 
bath-room,  near  the  main  hall,  (which  may  be  supplied  with 
hot  water  by  pipes  leading  to  a  boiler  in  the  kitchen  below,) 
and  three  servants'  bedrooms.  There  is  is  also  a  water- 
closet  at  the  end  of  the  passage  in  this  wing,  the  discharge 
pipe  from  which  is  concealed  in  the  partition,  in  a  closed 
trunk  or  chamber. 

This  class  of  dwellings,  abroad,  is  frequently  covered 
with  thatch,  which  has  a  pleasing,  rustic  effect.  But  our 
snowy  and  changeable  climate  will  soon  destroy  so  frail  a 
material,  and  it  is  therefore  unfit  for  covering  the  roofs  of 
buildings  for  habitation.  Our  best  shingles,  however,  afford 
an  excellent  material  for  covering  roofs,  and  if  those  of  good 
size  and  thickness  are  chosen,  and  shaped  as  we  have 
directed  in  a  former  page,  they  will  have  a  picturesque  and 
agreeable  effect,  and  make  a  very  durable  roof,  when 
painted  with  the  cheap,  coarse  paint,  now  so  generally  used 
for  this  purpose.  The  roof  of  this  cottage  should  be  ex- 
tended boldly,  say  two  to  three  feet,  to  give  force  and  ex- 
pression to  the  exterior,  and  to  protect  the  walls  fully.  The 
ends  of  the  rafters  are  projected,  so  as  to  appear  as  visible 
supports  at  the  eaves.    A  verge  board  is  shown  on  a 


142 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


[Fig.  58.] 

larger  scale  in  Fig.  58.  This  would  be  suitable  for  the 
porch  gable,  and  the  others  may  be  made  simpler  and  still 
bolder,  with  good  effect.  The  chimney-tops  should  be 
characteristically  made  of  ornamental  moulded  bricks,  or 
shafts  may  be  selected  of  pretty  patterns,  in  cut  stone. 
Although  the  partitions  in  which  the  dining-room  and  study 
flues  are  carried  up,  are  not  in  the  centre,  it  will  be  easy 
to  draw  over  these  stacks  in  the  garret,  so  as  to  bring 
them  out  at  the  ridge  or 
apex  of  the  roof,  which 
will  have  the  best  effect. 
A  plan  of  the  bay  win- 
dow is  shown  in  Fig.  59, 
in  which  the  inside  shut- 
ters'fold  into  boxes  on  each 
side. 


COTTAGE  BAY  WINDOW 

[Fig.  59.] 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


143 


In  a  country  where  good  bricks  are  abundant,  and 
easily  obtained,  we  should  prefer  to  build  this  cottage  of 
good  smooth  brick.  The  raw  and  disagreeable  colour  of 
new  brick  we  would  destroy,  by  painting  it  three  good 
coats  in  oil,  of  some  one  of  the  neutral  shades  given 
in  a  previous  illustration,  perhaps  that  one  designated  f. 
By  building  it  of  brick,  in  the  best  manner,  we  should  not 
only  have  solid  enduring  walls,  but,  to  those  familiar  with 
English  cottage  architecture,  it  would  have  an  agreeable 
effect,  by  creating  an  allusion  to  the  same  material  chiefly 
employed  in  that  country. 

All  the  exterior  wood- work  in  this  cottage,  (except  the 
roof,)  we  would  either  make  of  real  oak,  and  oil  it,  when 
it  would  assume  a  warm  rich  tone  of  colour  by  the  effects 
of  time,  or  we  would  paint  and  grain  it  in  imitation  of  oak. 
If  either  of  these  modes  should  be  considered  too  expen- 
sive, it  may  be  plainly  painted  the  same  colour  as  the 
house,  or  a  few  shades  darker. 

Should  the  execution  of  such  a  design  as  this  fall  into 
the  hands  of  an  ordinary  country  carpenter,  without  suit- 
able working  drawings  from  an  architect,  the  probability 
is  that  he  would  destroy  its  beauty  and  character,  by  re- 
ducing all  its  characteristic  features  to  the  most  meagre 
level,  until  all  the  boldness  and  spirit  of  the  style  would 
be  lost.  He  will  cut  the  gable  ornaments  out  of  thin 
boards,  make  the  mulhons  of  the  windows  of  slender  tim- 
ber, reduce  the  projection  of  the  roof,  and  the  irregularity 
of  the  ground  plan.  If  the  amateur  builder  is  so  unfortu- 
nate as  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  such  a  person,  he  will  be 
very  likely  to  get  the  emaciated  shadow  of  the  rural  Gothic 
cottage,  not  its  bold,  picturesque  and  striking  reality.  We 


144 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


mention  this  to  put  our  reader,  whose  taste  may  lead  him 
to  build  a  cottage  in  this  style,  on  his  guard  ;  and  we  ad- 
vise him,  as  in  the  end  the  most  economical,  and  most 
satisfactory  mode,  to  employ  a  competent  builder,  and  to 
procure  accurate  working  drawings  from  an  architect  of 
abihty  before  he  commences. 

Estimate.  The  cost  of  this  cottage,  built  in  the  manner 
we  have  here  suggested,  would  be  about  $7600. 

THE  GROUNDS  OF  THIS  RESIDENCE. 

In  designing  this  cottage  w^e  have  had  in  view  a  quiet, 
sequestered  situation  in  a  long  valle}^,  or  rather  dale,  in 
which  there  are  ten  or  twelve  acres  of  nearly  level  land, 
pretty  well  clothed  with  a  natural  growth  of  forest  trees, 
and  backed  on  either  side  by  wooded  hills  fifty  or  eighty 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  dale. 

There  is  an  entrance  lodge  at  the  point  where  the  ap- 
proach diverges  from  the  main  road  Fig.  60,  which  is 
to  be  built  in  the  same  style  as  the  cottage,  but  in  a  more 
simple  and  rustic  manner.  From  this  point  the  approach 
leads  by  a  graceful  curve  to  the  house  c,  and  from  thence 
to  the  stable  and  other  farm  buildings  having  a  gravel- 
led sweep  for  turning  carriages  in  front  of  the  porch,  and 
another  for  discharging  articles  from  a  cart  at  the  kitchen 
door  e. 

In  its  original  state  the  whole  of  the  surface  of  this  dale, 
from /  to  gj  is  thickly  covered  with  wood.  This  we  pro- 
pose to  thin  out  and  render  an  ornamental  and  interesting 
part  of  the  place,  by  leading  through  it  the  series  of  walks 
marked  i  in  the  plan.    These  walks  would  be  cool  and 


146 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


shady  in  summer,  and  would  have  a  delightful,  sylvan 
character  at  all  seasons.  In  thinning  out  a  natural  wood 
on  a  place  like  this  a  good  deal  of  care  and  judgment  is 
necessary  to  obtain  a  pleasing  effect,  and  preserve  the  best 
trees  in  good  condition.*  Were  we  to  go  into  the  wood 
and  thin  out  the  trees  here  and  there,  so  as  to  leave  the 
finest  specimens  standing  singly,  the  probability  is  that 
these  trees,  thus  suddenly  losing  the  support  of  their  fel- 
lows that  had  grown  up  in  close  contact  with  them  on 
every  side,  would  be  blown  down  and  destroyed  by  the 
first  severe  autumnal  gale  accompanied  with  rain.  Good 
judgment,  as  well  as  good  taste,  will  rather  dictate  that  we 
should  thin  them  out  in  masses  here  and  there,  leaving 
pretty  open  glades  A,  at  intervals,  which  being  soon  covered 
with  a  fine  green  turf,  and  catching  the  gleams  of  sunlight, 
will  be  a  charming  contrast  to  the  groups  and  thickets 
around.  The  trees  thus  left  in  groups  and  masses,  will 
afford  each  other  protection  and  support  against  the  wind, 
and  w^ill  gradually  strengthen  and  expand  in  their  roots 
and  heads,  until  they  become  luxuriant  and  spreading. 
We  should  bear  in  mind  also,  not  to  trim  off  the  lower 
branches  of  such  trees,  unless  they  are  dead  or  unsightly  ; 
as  they  will  probably  never  be  replaced,  and  the  highest 
beauty  of  a  tree  as  an  ornamental  object,  consists  in  its 
being  park-like^  that  is,  luxuriantly  feathered  with  foliage 
quite  down  to  the  ground. 

These  walks,  after  traversing  the  little  wood,  lead  to  the 
summit  of  the  hill  where  a  rustic  arbor  Jc,  serves  as  a  rest- 

*  Always  lay  bare  the  roots,  and  dig  or  cut  out  the  tree  below  the  surface  of  the 
soil.  Tills  will  leave  the  ground  clear,  and  not  covered  by  straggling  stumps,  which 
it  is  afterward  more  difficult  to  extricate  tlian  to  cut  the  whole  tree  out  properly. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


147 


ing  place,  and  affords  a  pleasant  view.  On  the  supposi- 
tion that  the  surface  on  the  right  of  the  walk  i,  (where  it 
first  leaves  the  house,)  is  open,  or  clothed  with  a  few  scat- 
tered trees,  we  will  introduce  a  rich  belt,  m,  of  flowering 
shrubs  on  the  side  of  this  walk.  This  belt  will  be  a  plea- 
sant contrast,  in  its  lively  show  of  blossoms,  to  the  graver 
character  of  the  forest  trees,  and  it  will  serve  the  import- 
ant purpose  of  concealing  this  walk  from  a  person  coming 
up  the  approach,  and  vice  versa;  a  circumstance  which 
should  never  be  lost  sight  of  in  places  of  moderate  size, 
where  it  is  always  desirable  to  increase  their  apparent 
dimensions. 

On  the  line  of  this  approach,  as  there  were  not  trees  in 
sufficient  abundance  to  give  it  a  wooded  appearance,  we 
should  plant  some  fine  maples,  elms,  and  sycamores,  and 
near  the  house,  some  European  larches,  Scotch  elms,  and 
other  exotic  trees.  As  the  trees  already  clothing  the  place 
are  large,  and  as  all  newly  planted  trees  will  therefore  be 
likely  to  look  somewhat  insignificant  for  a  few  years,  we 
should  be  careful  to  'prepare  the  soil  thoroughly,  as  previ- 
ously described,  before  planting  them.  This  will  not  only 
cause  them  to  grow  much  more  vigorously,  but  it  will  give 
them  almost  at  once  a  luxuriant  appearance,  which  goes 
very  far  to  lessen  the  apparent  disparity  between  a  large 
tree,  and  a  small  one  ;  as  we  never  despair  of  that  which 
we  see  making  rapid  advances. 

A  regular,  symmetrical  flower  garden  is  only  in  good 
keeping  with  a  Grecian,  Italian  or  other  highly  architec- 
tural building.  For  a  cottage  of  a  highly  rural  air,  like  the 
present,  something  is  required  of  a  less  formal  character, 
and  which  shall  leave  a  little  more  room  for  the  exercise 


148 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


of  the  fancy.  Such  an  irregular  flower  garden  we  have 
designated  (on  a  very  small  scale)  on  the  right  of  the 
house,  which  is  looked  into  from  the  drawing-room  win- 
dows. It  will  be  seen  that  the  beds  are  irregular,  and 
that  the  whole  garden  is  surrounded  by  an  irregular  plan- 
tation of  small  ornamental  trees  and  flowering  shrubs.* 
The  beds  may  be  surrounded  by  turf  kept  neatly  mown, 
or  by  gravel ;  or  a  gravel  walk  may  be  led  through  the 
centre  of  the  space  between  the  beds,  and  a  border  of  turf 
left  on  either  side  wide  enough  for  walking  upon.  The 
latter  will  perhaps  be  the  preferable  mode,  as  in  damp 
weather  the  hard,  firm  gravel  will  be  preferred,  and  in 
warm  sunny  days  the  soft  turf  will  be  more  agreeable  to 
the  tread. 

The  kitchen  garden  o,  is  placed  in  the  rear  of  the  house, 
in  a  sheltered  position  between  the  rising  ground  on  either 
side.  From  the  barn  and  stables  a  lane  leads  to  the 
farm  land  in  grass  and  tillage  beyond,  which  has  a  sepa- 
rate back  entrance  leading  into  the  public  road. 

When  a  place  like  this  occurs,  as  it  occasionally  does, 
in  the  midst  of  a  more  cultivated  and  less  wooded  neigh- 
borhood, it  will  be  a  delightful  surprise,  with  its  high- 
ly picturesque  air,  to  a  stranger  entering  it  for  the  first 
time.  It  will  be  a  much  easier  place  to  render  effective 
than  a  level  plain  with  few  trees,  if  we  carefully  study 
the  natural  expression  of  the  scene  and  only  attempt  to 
heighten,  not  to  alter  it  by  our  improvements.  In  the 
wooded  walk,  which  is  the  principal  feature  of  interest  in 
this  place,  there  will  doubtless  be  many  beautiful  wild 

*  A  larger  plan  of  a  flower  garden  of  this  description  may  be  found  in  our  Trea- 
tise on  Landscape  Gardening. 


A  SMALL  OK  GATE  LODCrK 


Fig.  6:2, 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


149 


plants  growing  naturally.  These  we  should  by  all  means 
foster,  and  we  may  increase  their  charm  by  collecting 
from  other  and  richer  localities  all  the  ornamental,  indi- 
genous plants  which  may  be  made  to  thrive  in  such  a 
situation. 

A  cottage  in  the  same  style,  suitable  for  a  gate  lodge  for  this 
residence,  or  for  a  small family. 

In  the  opposite  illustration,  Fig.  61,  we  have  indicated 
a  very  simple  cottage  in  the  same  style  as  Design  VII., 
which  would  be  well  adapted  for  a  lodge  at  the  entrance 
gate  b.  In  this  situation  it  would  probably  be  occupied 
by  the  gardener,  the  farmer,  or  some  family  in  the  em- 
ployment of  the  proprietor  of  this  residence.  When  a 
stranger  entered  the  place,  this  cottage  would  of  course 
first  arrest  his  attention,  and  with  its  old  English,  and 
pretty,  rural  expression,  would  serve  as  a  prelude  or  agree- 
able preparation  for  the  more  varied  and  extensive  cottage 
of  the  owner  of  the  demesne. 

It  would  otherwise  make  a  neat  and  picturesque  dwell- 
ing, if  properly  located,  for  a  small,  respectable  family,  who 
wish  to  lead  a  quiet  and  simple  life.  Although  its  accom- 
modation is  limited,  yet  it  may  be  made  to  assume  an  air 
of  taste  and  neatness,  always  agreeable  to  the  mind,  and 
often  more  striking  in  its  effect,  when  met  with  in  perfec- 
tion in  a  charming  little  cottage,  than  in  a  stately  mansion. 

An  examination  of  the  plans  of  the  interior,  Figs.  62 
and  63,  will  show  the  arrangement  of  the  rooms.  There 
is  a  parlour  or  living  room,  lighted  by  two  windows,  one  of 
them  a  bay  window,  and  adjoining  it  a  pantry,  a  bedroom. 


150 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


and  kitchen  on  the  first  floor.  On  the  second  floor  are 
two  bedrooms,  a  large  closet  or  wardrobe,  and  a  smaller 
closet  for  linen.  The  kitchen  is  a  wing  added  in  the  rear, 
with  a  gable  and  roof  joining  the  main  roof  in  a  similar 
manner  to  that  over  the  porch  in  the  view  of  the  front. 
The  construction  of  this  cottage  is  so  similar  to  that  of  the 
Design  VII.  just  described,  that  we  need  not  repeat  the 
details. 

Much  of  the  pleasing  effect  of  the  most  ornamental 
English  cottages  of  this  kind,  arises  from  the  employment 
of  vines  and  other  climbing  plants  of  different  sorts,  which 
growing  over  and  partly  concealing  portions  of  the  exte- 
rior, render  them,  rich  with  blossoms,  verdure,  and  fra- 
grance, perfect  wonders  of  rural  beauty.  For  this  pur- 
pose our  Virginia  creeper,  the  Trumpet  monthly  Honey- 
suckles, and  the  Boursalt,  and  English  White  Climbing 
Roses,  are  most  suitable  in  this  climate. 

Estimate.    This  cottage  may  be  built  of  wood  for  $830. 


D  E  S  I  C  W   V  I  f  f . 

A  VILLA  IN  THE  ITALIAN  HTl'LE 


F13  r. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


151 


DESIGN  VIIL 
A  Villa  in  the  Italian  Style* 

This  is  a  design  in  the  modern  Italian  style,  some  of 
the  merits  of  which  we  have  previously  pointed  out.  It 
will  be  at  once  perceived  that,  while  this  mode  retains 
much  of  the  expression  of  the  Grecian  style,  it  has  far 
more  variety,  and  a  much  more  domestic  character  than 
the  latter.  The  characteristic  quality  of  the  purest  speci- 
mens-of  Grecian  architecture  is  elegant  simplicity,  and  it  is 
a  quality  which  is  most  appropriately  displayed  in  a  tem- 
ple. On  the  other  hand  we  should  say  that  the  charac- 
teristic quality  of  the  modern  Italian  buildings  is  elegant 
variety,  which  is  most  fitly  exhibited  in  a  tasteful  villa. 
The  great  simplicity  of  form  of  the  first  is  highly  suited  to 
a  temple,  where  the  singleness  of  purpose  to  which  it  is 
devoted  appears  symbolized  in  the  simple  Oneness  of  the 
whole  edifice ;  the  irregularity  of  the  second  is  equally  in 
unison  with  the  variety  of  wants,  occupations  and  plea- 
sures, which  compose  the  routine  of  domestic  life. 

In  our  last  design  we  have  shown  a  cottage  highly 
suited  to  a  romantic  vale,  or  sylvan  nook,  by  the  rustic 
picturesqueness  of  its  ensemble;  the  present  one  is  equal- 
ly appropriate  for  an  open  smiling  plain,  diversified 
by  hill  and  dale,  and  sprinkled  with  groups  and 
masses  of  trees.  The  more  finished  and  architectural 
character  of  the  building  requires  less  the  support  of 


152 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


thickets  of  trees  and  intricacy  of  scenery  to  produce  a 
harmonious  union.  The  elegance  of  an  Italian  villa  is 
produced  mainly  by  the  assemblage  of  simple  and  effec- 
tive lines  in  its  exterior,  but  it  is  also  greatly  enhanced 
by  the  introduction  of  such  beautiful  and  refined  features 
as  the  terrace  with  its  ornamental  balustrade  and  vases, 
and  the  balcony  with  its  shade  or  canopy. 

The  terrace  is  a  paved  walk  or  smooth  area,  higher 
than  the  adjoining  grounds,  and  twenty  or  more  feet  in 
width,  surrounded  by  a  handsome  balustrade  of  stone,  or 
of  wood  formed  to  imitate  heavy  Italian  balusters.  At 
suitable  distances  along  the  top  of  this  balustrade,  maybe 
placed  vases  of  terra  cotta,  artificial  stone,  or  more  cosily 
materials,  and  of  classic  forms,  in  proper  keeping  with  the 
style  of  the  building.  As  an  object  of  taste,  the  terrace 
is  universally  admired,  because  it  serves  to  connect,  by  a 
gradual  transition,  so  highly  artificial  an  object  as  an  ar- 
chitectural dwelling,  with  the  more  simple  forms  of  natural 
objects  around.  There  is  felt  to  be  something  incongruous 
in  a  highly  finished  house  set  down,  as  we  sometimes  see  it, 
without  the  least  reason  or  preparation,  in  the  middle  of  a 
green  lawn  ;  but  let  the  base  of  the  house  extend  itself  by 
a  handsome  terrace,  and  let  the  characteristic  forms  of  the 
building  be  occasionally  repeated  near  by,  in  the  shape  of 
a  few  pedestals  with  vases,  or  other  sculptured  objects, 
and  there  is  at  once  produced  a  harmonious  union  between 
the  architecture  and  the  landscape,  or,  in  other  words,  be- 
tween the  house  and  the  grounds. 

As  an  object  of  utility,  the  terrace  is  a  most  comfortable 
and  agreeable  feature,  afibrding  a  firm,  dry  and  secure 
walk,  sunny  and  warm  in  the  mid-day  of  winter,  and  cool 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


153 


and  airy  in  the  mornings  and  evenings  of  summer.  From 
it,  in  many  situations,  access  is  had  to  the  flower  garden, 
the  luxuriant  creeping  and  chmbing  plants  of  which,  en- 
wreathing  gracefully  here  and  there  the  balustrade,  or 
hanging  in  clusters  of  rich  blossoms  about  the  sculptured 
vase,  increase  the  harmony  growing  out  of  this  artistically 
contrived  union  of  nature  and  art. 

In  this  cottage  villa  of  very  moderate  size,  we  have  en- 
deavoured to  combine  several  of  the  peculiar  beauties  of 
the  Italian  style.  Its  facade,  see  Fig.  64,  comprises  a 
square  tower  or  campanile,  an  arcade  or  Italian  veranda, 
the  triple,  round-arched  windows,  and  the  ridged  or  fur- 
rowed roof;  and  on  the  left  is  seen  a  portion  of  the  terrace, 
which  extends  along  the  whole  south  side  of  the  building. 
In  the  stack  of  chimney  to  the  left,  is  shown  the  usual 
Italian  form  ;  in  the  central  one,  of  loftier  dimensions, 
(which  we  have  there  introduced  to  improve  the  composi- 
tion by  giving  it  a  more  pyramidal  outline,)  we  have  copied 
one  not  uncommon  in  Florence. 

In  its  accommodation  this  house  is  moderate,  and  yet 
we  trust  it  will  be  found  convenient  and  agreeable.  The 
front  door  is  approached  from  the  arcade,  or  veranda  of 
the  entrance  front.  Fig.  65.  Opening  this  we  arrive  in 
the  entrance-hall,  which  may  be  very  completely  con- 
nected with  the  veranda  when  the  door  and  window  are 
open  in  summer.  The  staircase  is  conveniently,  and  yet 
privately  situated,  as  it  is  placed  in  a  separate  division  of 
the  hall,  which  may  be  excluded  at  any  time  by  a  Soor 
between  them.  At  the  side  of  the  hall  opposite  the  front 
door,  is  the  dining-room,  17  by  20  feet,  with  a  pantry 
opening  into  it  on  the  left.    Proceeding  to  the  door  at  the 

19 


154 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


left  end  of  the  hall,  we  enter  the  drawing-room,  20  by  22 
feet,  opening  by  its  two  casement  windows  to  the  terrace, 
and  enjoying  a  fine  view  of  the  lawn  through  the  large 
projecting  window  on  the  front.  Directly  in  the  rear  of 
this  room  is  the  library,  more  quiet  and  secluded  in  its 
position,  and  of  less  size,  but  therefore  more  in  character 
with  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  destined. 

We  must  not  forget  the  boudoir,  situated  at  the  other 
extremity  of  the  hall,  which  occupies  the  lower  part  of  the 
tower.  This  may  be  very  tastefully  and  prettily  fitted  up, 
and  used  by  the  lady  of  the  house  as  a  morning  room  for 
receiving  social  calls  ;  or,  if  preferred,  it  would  serve  ad- 
mirably as  a  dressing-room,  and  with  a  cabinet  bedstead, 
as  a  bedroom  at  night,  when  necessary.  There  is  a  pri- 
vate, or  back  door  to  the  hall,  at  the  end  of  the  passage 
leading  into  this  boudoir. 


SECOND  FLOOR 
[Fig.  66.] 


By  a  glance  at  the  plan  of  the  second  floor,  Fig.  66,  the 
number  and  sizes  of  the  sleeping  apartments  will  be  readily 
understood.    There  are  five  bedrooms,  of  different  dimen- 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


155 


sions,  including  that  in  the  tower,  from  which  a  light  and 
fanciful  open  stairs  may  lead  to  the  apartment  in  the  cam- 
panile, serving  as  a  belvidere  or  observatory.  There  is  a 
large  linen  closet  in  the  front  hall,  and  wardrobe-closets 
may  be  made  in  each  of  the  bedrooms. 

The  basement  of  this  house  may  contain  a  kitchen  di- 
rectly beneath  the  dining-room,  a  cellar  under  the  draw- 
ing-room, a  store-room  and  laundry  under  the  library,  and 
a  man-servant's  bed-room  in  the  basement  of  the  tower. 

Although  from  the  strong  contrasts  of  light  and  shade 
in  an  Italian  elevation  like  this,  there  is  much  boldness 
and  painter-like  effect,  yet,  as  these  arise  chiefly  from  the 
employment  of  a  few  strong  lines  and  well  marked  features, 
the  Italian,  it  will  be  perceived,  is  a  comparatively  easy 
and  an  economical  style.  In  this  country,  especially,  it 
will  for  some  time  be  found  that  a  building  in  this  style 
may  be  erected  with  less  trouble  than  one  like  the  pre- 
ceding design,  because  the  ordinary  mechanics  are  all 
familiar  with  the  details  of  Grecian  architecture,  which 
are  chiefly  employed,  with  slight  variations,  in  its  execution. 

An  important  advantage  which  the  Italian  architecture 
possesses  over  the  Greek,  is  the  very  great  capacity  which 
its  irregular  form  offers  for  additions  that  may  be  wanted 
at  any  future  period.  One  of  our  Greek-temple  dwelling- 
houses,  on  the  other  hand,  is  originally  so  complete  in  its 
form,  that  its  fair  proportions  would  be  greatly  marred 
by  adding  any  apartments  that  the  comfort  or  conve- 
nience of  the  family  might  suggest,  when  increased  in 
wealth  or  numbers.  In  carrying  the  present  design  into 
practice,  should  it  be  preferred  to  enlarge  or  extend  it 
b}^  adding  a  kitchen  and  offices   on  the  first  floor, 


156 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


a  wing  for  this  purpose  might  be  extended  to  the  right  of 
the  dining-room,  a  little  in  the  rear  of  the  tower,  which,  if 
judiciously  composed,  would  heighten  the  effect  of  the 
whole  pile  of  building,  by  giving  it  greater  extent  and 
irregularity,  two  important  elements  of  beauty  in  Italian 
villa  architecture. 

Construction,  We  would  either  build  this  house  of  the 
smoothest  and  best  brick,  and  paint  it  in  some  soft,  pleasing 
shade,  or  of  the  roughest  brick, 
and  coat  it  with  the  best  cement 
coloured  to  resemble  a  light  mel- 
low stone.  The  solidity  of  the 
architecture  would  scarcely  per- 
mit the  employment  of  wood,  as  [Fig-  G7.] 
a  material  for  the  whole  of  this  edifice,  although  the  lighter 
character  of  the  bracketted  Italian,  (Design  V.)  is  well 
suited  to  wood.  Should  economy  oblige  us  to  construct 
the  balcony  and  terrace  balustrades  of  wood,  they  should 
be  made  in  a  bold  manner,  and  thoroughly  painted  and 
sanded,  to  imitate  the  material  of  the  house.    In  Fig.  67, 


ARCADE 


[Fig.  es.j 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES.  157 

is  shown  the  Italian  balcony,  in  Fig.  68, 
the  arcade  on  the  entrance  front,  both  to  a 
larger  scale.  The  central  Florentine  chim- 
ney, which  is  of  a  very  handsome  descrip- 
tion, is  shown  in  Fig.  69.  The  body  of  this 
chimney-top  may  be  built  of  common 
bricks,  and  the  ornamental  apex  or  summit 
[Fig.  69.]  of  cut  stone. 
The  roof  is  one  of  the  most  striking  features  in  this 
style,  which  arises  (on  the  continent)  from  its  being  made 
ornamental  by  employing  large  furrowed  tiles.  When 
these  are  not  at  hand,  the  effect  may  be  easily  imitated, 
by  a  covering  of  tin  or  zinc  put  on  in  the  ridge  manner,  the 
ribs  being  made  bold  and  heavy.  This  is  not  only  a  hand- 
some, but  an  equally  economical  and  a  much  more  secure 
mode,  than  the  common  one  of  soldering  ihe  whole  surface, 
generally  practised.  The  roof  of  a  house  in  this  style,  is 
made  sufficiently  steep  to  render  the  latter  unnecessary. 
In  painting  it,  either  a  dark  brown,  or  slate  color  should 
be  chosen. 

Estimate,  This  design  would  cost  S7800,  if  the  balus- 
trades, etc.,  were  of  cut  free-stone.  If  made  of  wood 
$7600. 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  GROUNDS. 

A  house  like  this  would  naturally  demand  a  situation 
where  some  considerable  extent  of  ground  could  be  ob- 
tained. It  would  be  highly  suitable  for  a  handsome  villa 
residence  in  the  country  of  moderate  size  comprising  from 
80  to  150  acres  of  land.    A  large  portion  of  this  would 


158 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


be  kept  under  culture  and  would  serve  to  give  employ- 
ment to  the  proprietor  in, his  character  of  an  amateur 
farmer.  Near  the  house  ten  or  twenty  acres  may  be  de- 
voted to  lawn,  all  of  which  may  be  kept  mown;  that 
nearest  the  house  being  of  course  more  neatly  and  more 
frequently  clipped  by  the  scythe,  to  accord  with  the  air  of 
elegance  and  polish  always  to  be  observed  in  the  pre- 
cincts of  a  handsome  dwelling. 

In  the  plan  here  given,  Fig.  70,  we  have  attempted  to 
convey  an  idea  of  the  arrangement  of  that  portion  of  the 
grounds  directly  about  the  house,  as  our  previous  exam- 
ples have  probably  given  sufficient  hints  of  the  manage- 
ment of  the  more  distant  and  extended  portions,  including 
the  approach.  The  trees  introduced  in  this  design  should 
be  chiefly  those  of  large  finely  rounded  heads,  and  grace- 
ful sweeping  branches,  and  they  should  be  grouped  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  allow  them  to  develope  themselves 
in  their  utmost  beauty  of  form  on  every  side. 

The  dwelling  a,  we  have  placed  on  a  little  table  of  land 
descending  gently  on  every  side,  and  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty  feet  distant  from  the  shore  of  a  pretty  little 
natural  lake  on  the  left.  The  approach  leading  from  the 
pubhc  road  through  the  demesne  to  the  house  is  shown,  in 
part,  at  6;  a  gravelled  sweep  for  carriages  c  is  formed  in 
front  of  the  arcade,  and  the  road  leading  to  the  stable 
and  farm  buildings,  branches  off  at  the  right  of  the  house. 

The  most  important  feature  in  this  plan  which  we  shall 
endeavor  to  describe  here,  is  the  architectural  flower  gar- 
den e,  which  will  be  seen  occupying  a  considerable  space 
on  the  left  of  the  house.  The  terrace /,  the  beauty  and 
utility  of  which  we  have  already  insisted  upon,  lies  in  this 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


159 


[Fig.  70.] 


160  .  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


direction,  serving  as  a  kind  of  beautiful  extended  base  to 
the  house.  We  shall  suppose  this  idea  still  further  carried 
out  in  the  architectural  flower  garden,  which  surrounds 
this  terrace,  and  which  lying  directly  below  it,  affords  a 
fine  display  from  the  windows  of  the  drawing-room  and 
library. 

We  are  not  admirers  of  geometric  or  formal  flower 
gardens  like  this,  considered  by  themselves,  and  merely 
as  flower  gardens,  because  we  think  a  natural  arrangement 
is  more  replete  with  beauty  and  grace,  and  is  capable  of 
afibrding  a  much  higher  kind  of  pleasure.  But  this  kind 
of  architectural  flower  garden,  so  common  in  Italy,  and  so 
appropriate  an  accompaniment  to  residences  of  this  kind, 
requires  to  be  regarded  in  another  light.  It  is  not  only  a 
garden  for  the  display  of  plants,  but  it  is  a  garden  of  archi- 
tectural and  floral  beauty  combined  ;  it  is  as  much  an  ac- 
cessary of  the  building  as  a  portion  of  the  grounds,  and 
therefore  it  very  properly  exhibits  much  of  the  regularity 
and  symmetry  of  architectural  forms  and  compositions. 
It  contains  plants,  trees  and  shrubs,  it  is  true,  in  great  pro- 
fusion, but  the  beauty  of  these  is  heightened,  and  rendered 
more  brilliant,  by  the  introduction  of  elegant  vases,  sculp- 
tured urns,  or  perhaps  a  few  statues  of  floral  deities,  or 
busts  of  distinguished  persons.  Those  who  have  never 
seen  the  lively  effect  that  may  be  produced  by  a  garden  of 
this  kind,  joined  to  an  elegant  villa,  the  architectural  forms 
of  which  seem  repeated  in  the  garden  and  thus  beautifully 
harmonised  with  nature,  can  scarcely  conceive  how  charm- 
ing it  appears.  A  summer  moonlight  walk  on  this  terrace, 
while  we  hear  the  silence  broken  only  by  the  gentle  mur- 
mur of  the  fountain  at  e,  and  see,  softly  gleaming  in  the 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


161 


silvery  beams,  the  sculptured  vases,  clustered  over  par- 
tially by  luxuriant  climbers,  and  backed  by  dark  masses 
of  rich  waving  shrubs  and  flowers,  would  be  sufficient  to 
remind  one  of  even  the  most  indifferent  poetical  tempera- 
ment, of  the  garden  of  Boccaccio, — 

Where,  half  conceal'd.  the  eye  of  fancy  views 

Fauns,  nymphs  and  winged  saints  all  gracious  to  his  muse  I 

Still  in  the  garden  let  me  watch  their  pranks, 

And  see  in  Dians  vest  between  the  ranks 

Of  the  trim  vines,  some  maid  that  half  believes 

The  vestal  fires  of  which  her  lover  grieves. 

With  that  sly  satyr  peeping  through  the  leaves ! 

Coleridge. 

In  the  example  of  this  kind  of  garden  attached  to  this 
house  we  should  not  expect  to  find  so  costly  a  decoration 
as  marble  vases  introduced,  but  all  the  beauty  of  form, 
and  nearly  all  that  of  material  may  be  obtained  at  a  very 
moderate  cost,  suited  to  our  more  economical  habits  in 
this  country,  in  vases  and  ornaments  of  terra  cotta,  or  arti- 
ficial stone.*    The  exorbitant  price  paid  /i^r^^oy^^^^ 
for  some  single  article  of  fashionable  fur-      \  / 
niture,  such  as  we  not  unfrequently  find  ww/mP^ 
in  our  country-houses  of  this  class,  would  ^^C^ 
embellish  a  whole  architectural  garden  ^^^^ 
with  vases.  ^  .,  | 

It  should  always  be  remembered  that  j    j  | 

all  vases,  urns,  or  other  sculptured  orna-       I  I  | 

ments  for  gardens  or  grounds,  should  be  [  ly 
placed  on  proper  pedestals,  plinths,  or        [Fig.  7i.] 

*  Some  specimens  of  terra  cotta  vases  may  be  found  at  the  Salamander  Works, 
Cannon-street,  New- York.  Those  in  artificial  stone  maybe  had  at  Gibson's,  or 
Goodwin's  Warehouses. 

20 


162 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES- 


bases,  to  serve  as  a  firm  support.  A  pedestal  not  only 
secures  a  firm  and  an  upright  position,  but  it  gives  a  dig- 
nity and  importance  to  the  vase  as  a  work  of  art,  which  it 
would  not  have  if  it  were  loosely  and  carelessly  placed 
upon  the  ground,  or  the  gravel  walk.  A  simple  form  for 
such  a  pedestal  is  shown  in  Fig.  71,  6,  but  a  great  variety 
of  a  more  ornamental  description  will  be  suggested  by  a 
study  of  classical  antique  designs. 

This  garden,  octagonal  in  its  form,  we  would  surround 
by  a  light,  and  low  balustrade-like  fence,  ^,  to  be  partially 
concealed  by  creepers.  At  the  angles  of  this  fence  we 
would  place  pedestals  for  supports  w,  each  to  be  crowned 
by  a  vase  of  some  simple  form.  These  pedestals,  and 
those  in  the  interior  of  the  garden  that  we  intend  for  vases, 
are  designated  by  the  x  mark  on  the  plan. 

The  beds,  or  parterres,  for  flowers  we  would  border  with 
box,  that  being  a  very  regular,  architectural  looking  plant, 
and  a  very  permanent  one  for  this  purpose.  The  walks 
should  be  of  gravel,  made  hard  and  firm  by  the  use  of  the 
roller.  The  collection  of  plants  chosen  for  the  garden  may 
vary  somewhat  to  suit  the  taste  of  the  proprietor,  but  the 
most  satisfactory  result  will  be  attained  by  choosing  such 
shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants  as  are  distinguished  for 
richness  and  depth  of  colour  in  their  foliage,  and  for  a 
massy  and  luxuriant  habit  of  growth,  as  well  as  for  beauty 
or  delicacy  of  blossom.  All  lean,  starved,  and  meagre- 
looking  plants,  mere  botanical  rarities,  or  such  as  are  pretty 
for  a  short  time  and  then  only  remain  to  offend  the  eye  and 
destroy  the  general  ensemble  of  luxuriant  verdure  and 
bloom,  should  be  rejected  from  a  garden  of  this  kind. 

It  will  be  a  fortunate  circumstance  should  a  spring  exist 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


163 


somewhere  on  a  neighboring  height,  whence  it  may  be 
brought,  in  concealed  pipes,  to  supply  this  fountain.  When 
this  is  out  of  the  question,  a  cistern  constructed  in  the 
upper  story  of  some  outbuilding,  at  no  great  distance,  may 
afford  a  sufficient  supply  for  playing  in  the  evening,  or  at 
certain  times  during  the  day.  The  French  have  an  inge- 
nious method  of  raising  water  from  a  well  for  this  purpose, 
which  has  been  put  in  practice  in  some  places  in  this 
country  at  little  expense.  A  small  wooden  tower  or  square 
building  is  placed  in  a  convenient  position,  over  a  well, 
and  where  it  is  not  a  too  conspicuous  object,  and  furnished 
with  sails  like  a  windmill,  and  a  simple  shaft  and  appa- 
ratus for  drawing  water  by  means  of  a  pump  to  a  cistern 
of  good  capacity  in  the  top  of  the  tower.  This  will  fur- 
nish a  fountain,  or  jet  d'eau  of  moderate  size,  with  a  suffi- 
cient supply  of  water  during  the  whole  summer  at  little 
trouble,  and  without  intermission  if  the  cistern  be  made 
large  enough,  to  hold  a  small  over-supply  for  an  occasional 
calm  day. 


164 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


DESIGN  IX. 

A  cottage  in  the  Italian,  or  T^tscan  style. 

The  design  for  this  cottage,  Fig.  72,  has  been  kindly 
sent  us  for  this  work  by  J.  Notman,  Esq.,  Architect,  of 
Philadelphia. 

Although  its  details  are  very  simple  and  will  be  under- 
stood at  a  glance,  and  the  cottage  is  only  of  very  moderate 
dimensions,  yet  the  variety  of  outline  which  it  exhibits, 
makes  it  appear  a  house  of  much  larger  size  than  it  really 
is.  The  projection  of  the  roof,  and  the  ornamental  cor- 
nice, as  well  as  the  heavy  and  appropriate  window  dress- 
ings, bestow  at  once  an  expression  of  some  elegance,  and 
render  the  house  superior  to  the  ordinary  dwellings  of  this 
class. 

In  the  plan  of  the  principal  story.  Fig.  73,  there  is  an 
entrance  hall  with  a  handsome  staircase,  and  an  apart- 
ment on  either  side  ;  that  on  the  right  being  a  parlour,  and 
that  on  the  left  a  dining-room.  In  the  piers  on  either  side 
of  the  staircase,  are  spaces  which  designate  hot-air  flues, 
which  proceed  from  the  furnace  in  the  basement,  and  by 
means  of  registers,  warm  all  the  apartments  in  the  house, 
although  the  four  principal  ones  have  fire-places  besides 
for  occasional  use,  if  necessar}'". 

The  first  flight  of  stairs  ascends  half  the  story,  and  on  a 
level  with  the  landing  here  is  the  broad  and  airy  balcony 
in  the  rear,  entered  by  a  fair  round-headed  window,  open- 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


165 


ing  to  the  floor.  Underneath,  this  balcony  forms  a  kind 
of  partly  enclosed  apartment,  serving  as  a  wash-room  or 
outer  kitchen  in  summer. 

There  is  also  a  balcony  over  the  recessed  porch  in 
front,  which  is  a  pleasant  appendage  to  the  chamber  floor. 
This  floor,  Fig.  74,  affords  three  pleasant  bedrooms,  and 


S  SCO  NO  STORY 
[Fig.  74.] 

there  is  a  fourth  of  more  ample  size  in  the  third  story  of 
the  central  portion  of  the  cottage,  which  is,  both  with  re- 
gard to  its  proportions  and  the  fine  birds-eye  view  it  com- 
mands, a  very  pleasant  apartment. 

The  plan  of  the  basement.  Fig.  75,  sufficiently  explains 


B  AS 


M  E  N  T 


[Fig.  75.] 


166 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


itself.  In  the  middle  of  the  hall  below  is  the  furnace  for 
supplying  heated  air,  and  on  either  side  are  the  kitchen, 
the  store-room,  and  the  fuel  cellar. 

This  design  Mr.  Notman  remarks  might  be  altered  and 
improved,  without  any  variation  of  the  present  form,  by 
elongating  the  flanks,  and  adding  a  suite  of  rooms  in  the 
rear.  It  may  be  built  of  brick  and  cement,  or  of  wood  ; 
and  a  very  simple  kind  of  interior  finish,  would  be  in  the 
best  taste  for  a  cottage  of  this  class.  The  roof  may  be 
covered  with  tin,  zinc,  or  shingles,  and  the  joints,  between 
the  roof  of  the  wings  and  the  wall  of  the  central  portion, 
should  be  well  protected  by  broad  lead  or  copper  flash- 
ings, or  strips,  running  up  a  foot  or  more  on  the  roof  and 
wall,  and  being  bu^lt-in  the  latter  in  the  usual  manner. 

Estimate.  This  cottage  well  constructed  of  solid  mate- 
rials, and  neatly  finished,  would  cost  $3000.  If  built  of 
wood,  filled  in  with  brick,  the  expense  might  be  slightly 
reduced.  The  design  has  been  executed  in  a  more  ele- 
gant and  costly  manner  near  Philadelphia. 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  GROUND. 

For  the  sake  of  illustration,  we  shall  suppose  this  to  be 
a  suburban  dwelling,  placed  upon  a  long  and  narrow  lot 
of  ground,  that  being  the  most  common  form  near  towns, 
and  the  most  difficult  one  to  render  agreeable  or  interest- 
ing. Its  dimensions  may  be  120  feet  broad  by  375  feet 
deep,  and  it  may  extend  from  the  street  in  front  to  another 
in  the  rear. 

The  first  object  of  the  proprietor  of  this  cottage  we  shall 
suppose  to  be  the  production  of  a  large  crop  of  fruit  and 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


167 


vegetables  of  every  description,  and  the  second  to  render 
the  whole  garden  rather  tasteful  and  agreeable,  by  a  skilful 
distribution  of  his  materials  and  arrangement  of  walks. 
We  shall  suppose  no  trees  introduced  solely  for  ornament, 
except  on  the  small  lawn  or  area  of  grass  in  the  front  of 
the  dwelling,  and  those  bordering  the  irregular  walk  on 
the  left ;  and  even  in  these  situations  a  preference  will  be 
given  to  ornamental  fruit-hearing  trees,  as  the  Black  Mul- 
berry, the  English  Walnut,  the  Spanish  Chestnut,  and  the 
thin-shelled  Almond  among  trees,  and  the  productive  va- 
rieties of  filberts,  etc.,  among  shrubs. 

In  the  plan.  Fig.  76,  the  entrance  gates  are  placed  at  a, 
the  house  at  Z>,  the  stable  and  yard  at  c.  On  either  side 
of  the  house  is  an  area  of  turf  studded  with  a  few  orna- 
mental trees  of  such  species  as  are  thought  desirable.  The 
plot  g,  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  is  also  devoted  to  grass, 
but  it  is  planted  with  a  small  orchard  of  fruits  of  the  har- 
dier and  more  rapid  growing  kinds,  cherries,  pears,  or 
such  other  trees  as  will  succeed  tolerably  well  in  a  sur- 
face kept  in  grass.  This  orchard  is  planted  in  the  pic- 
turesque manner,  that  is  in  irregular  groups,  as  it  is  seen 
directly  from  the  house,  and  therefore  would  be  most 
agreeable  in  this  form.  The  second  compartment  h,  is 
another  orchard  of  such  choice  fruit  trees  as  require  more 
care,  and  the  ground  around  which  is  to  be  kept  open  by 
culture,  arid  may  be  planted  annually  with  various  crops 
of  vegetables  with  advantage  to  the  trees,  and  economy 
of  space. 

The  third  compartment  i,  is  the  kitchen  garden,  the 
area  of  which  is  to  be  kept  free  from  trees  and  devoted 
entirely  to  vegetables.    There  is  a  walk  Jc,  sufficiently 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


[Fig.  60.] 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


169 


wide  for  a  cart  or  wagon  leading  from  the  stable  c,  to 
the  street  in  the  rear,  which  gives  access  to  the  stable  and 
affords  an  opportunity  of  supplying  the  garden  with  com- 
post, or  carrying  away  litter,  or  garden  products,  without 
passing  by  the  house,  or  having  recourse  to  the  front  en- 
trance. The  long  border  Z,  may  be  devoted,  in  different 
parts,  to  grape  vines,  strawberries,  and  other  small  fruits, 
or  to  rhubard,  and  other  esculent  plants. 

As  a  counterpart  to  this  long  w^alk,  which  is  strictly 
useful  in  its  character,  we  have  another  m,  on  the  opposite 
side,  winding  and  graceful  in  its  direction,  and  bordered 
by  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  small  flowering  trees  and 
shrubs.  These  shrubs  as  we  have  before  suggested  may 
be  interspersed  with  the  productive  varieties  of  English 
filberts,  the  Siberian  crab  and  other  small  fruits  used  for 
preserves,  and  also  with  dwarf  apples  and  pears,  which, 
growing  only  a  few  feet  high,  will,  when  in  fine  bearing, 
be  very  ornamental  objects.  The  bprder  or  belt  of  shrubs 
varying  in  width  from  three,  to  fourteen  or  more  feet, 
should  be  continued  on  both  sides  of  this  walk,  as  the  ob- 
ject of  it  is,  not  only  to  render  the  walk  interesting  by  the 
variety  of  shrubs,  but  also  to  render  this  portion  of  the 
garden  complete  in  itself,  by  preventing,  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, the  eye  from  seeing  the  kitchen  garden  or  other  com- 
partments on  the  right,  at  the  same  time  with  the  scene 
formed  by  the  walk  and  its  boundary  or  fringe  of  shrubs. 
A  person  after  having  walked  along  the  whole  course  of 
the  irregular  walk  m,  may  vary  the  impression  received, 
either  by  returning  through  the  straight  walk  Ic,  of  the 
kitchen  garden,  or,  if  it  is  preferred,  he  may  return  partly 

21 


170 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES- 


in  a  new  course  of  curved  walks,  by  taking  the  cross 
walks  n,  in  his  way. 

We  have  indicated  by  the  dotted  outline  at  o,  how  a 
conservatory  might  be  added  on  the  left  wing  of  this 
house,  which  might  be  warmed  either  by  a  flue,  or  by 
warm  water  pipes  connected  with  the  fire-place  of  the 
dining-rocm,  or  the  kitchen  below.  This  should  be  on  a 
level  with  the  principal  floor,  and  should  of  course  be  en- 
tered by  a  glazed  door  from  the  dining-room.  As  the  wall 
of  the  house  woold  form  one  side,  or  rather  the  back  of 
the  conservatory,  it  could  be  more  economically  construct- 
ed, and  kept  warm  at  less  expense,  than  a  detached  green- 
house. 

The  grass  on  the  areas /,  and  g,  should  be  mown  at  least 
once  a  fortnight  during  summer.  This,  if  it  is  successively 
performed  on  the  different  portions,  will  go  far  towards 
supplying  a  horse  or  cow  with  green  fodder  during  the 
growing  season,  and  by  the  frequent  cutting,  the  beauty 
and  verdure  of  the  lawn  will  be  greatly  improved. 

The  grounds  of  a  cottage  omee-  like  this,  while  they 
would  afford  a  considerable  quantity  and  variety  of  valu- 
able products,  would,  we  think  all  will  admit,  be  far  more 
agreeable  and  interesting  than  the  common  rectangular 
lots,  so  general  in  the  suburbs  of  our  towns,  and  which 
are  so  entirely  destitute  of  beauty  of  design. 


DESIGN  X. 

A  VILLA.  IN  THE  POINTEP  STYLE. 


I'lg  -a 


COTTAX3E  RESIDENCES. 


171 


DESIGN  X. 

A  villa  of  the first  class,  in  the  Pointed  Style. 

This  design  of  a  Pointed  Villa,  by  A.  J.  Davis,  Esq. 
Architect,  although  a  much  larger  and  more  elaborate  com- 
position than  fairly  comes  within  the  scope  of  this  work, 
we  have  introduced  as  a  concluding  example  both  for  the 
purpose  of  showing  a  more  complete  and  extensive  villa 
than  we  have  hitherto  presented,  and  as  a  specimen  of  the 
progress  which  architectural  taste  is  making  in  this  coun- 
try ;  it  having  been  recently  designed  by  Mr.  Davis  for  the 
country  residence  of  J.  Rathbone,  Esq.  of  Albany. 

In  the  annexed  view,  Fig.  77,  the  artist  has  chosen  a 
position  showing  the  north  and  east  fronts  of  the  building 
which  are  to  be  seen  from  the  river,  the  entrance  front  be- 
ing on  the  west  side,  a  small  portion  of  the  open  porch  or 
forte  cochere  being  visible  on  the  right  of  the  house. 

This  villa  now  completed  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
finest  specimens  of  the  Gothic,  or  pointed  style  of  archi- 
tecture in  this  country.  Although  the  whole  composition 
evinces  unity  of  feeling,  there  is  as  much  variety  of  fea- 
ture as  w^e  ever  remember  to  have  seen  introduced  suc- 
cessfully in  a  villa ;  indeed  perhaps  a  greater  variety  of 
windows,  gables  and  buttresses  than  could  be  introduced 
in  a  building  of  that  size  with  good  effect,  were  it  not  sup- 
ported by  the  corresponding  intricacy  and  variety  of  the 
trees  and  foliage  around  it,  which  are  here  in  admirable 
keeping  with  the  picturesque  outlines  of  the  edifice. 


172 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCESr 


Fig.  78,  is  a  plan  of  the  principal  floor.  A  good  deal 
of  character  is  conferred  on  the  west  or  entrance  front  by 
the  projecting  porch,  which,  extending  entirely  across  the 
approach  road  15  feet,  forms  a  dry,  sheltered  carriage 
porchf  under  which  a  carriage  may  draw  up  and  the  occu- 
pants alight  dry  and  sheltered  in  all  weathers. 

If  we  now  enter  and  pass  through  the  vestibule,  we  shall 
soon  find  ourselves  in  a  circular  hall,  16  feet  in  diameter, 
that  forms  a  nucleus  or  radiating  point  from  which  all  the 
principal  apartments  diverge.  This  (and  through  it  the 
whole  house)  is  heated  by  a  furnace  in  the  basement. 
Directly  beyond  the  hall  is  the  library,  a  sexangular  apart- 
ment of  much  beauty  of  proportion,  which  will  command 
a  very  striking  view  of  the  Hudson  from  the  bay  window 
at  the  eastern  extremity.  This  bay  window  should  be 
filled  with  rich  stained  glass,  which  would  produce  a  mel- 
low tone  of  light  in  this  apartment  in  admirable  keeping 
with  its  character.  On  the  right  side  of  the  library  is 
another  window  opening  to  the  veranda  or  "  umbrage," 
afibrding  a  dehghtful  walk,  with  a  noble  view  of  the  river 
in  its  southern  course. 

The  dining-room  is  entered  by  another  door  on  the  right 
of  this  hall.  It  is  16  by  24  feet  in  its  dimensions,  and  the 
bay  at  the  south  opens  into  a  conservatory  for  plants, 
which  will  give  this  apartment  an  air  of  summer,  even  in 
the  depths  of  a  northern  winter.  This  conservatory,  form- 
ing as  it  does  a  portion  of  the  veranda,  may  be  entirely 
removed  in  summer,  if  it  should  be  preferred  to  have  the 
whole  veranda  open,  by  having  moveable  sashes,  con- 
structed so  as  to  be  easily  taken  out  in  the  spring,  and  re- 
placed in  autumn.    The  dining-room  has  a  china  closet 


COTTAGE  UESIDENCES. 


173 


on  the  right  of  the  chimney  breast ;  a  dumb  waiter  on  the 
left ;  across  the  staircase  hall  is  the  pantry,  and  the  stairs 
descending  to  the  kitchen  and  its  offices  is  placed  in  most 
convenient  proximity  to  the  door  leading  to  this  passage. 

The  drawing-room  opens  on  the  left  of  the  hall  and 
forms  a  suite  with  the  library  and  dining-room.  Its  bay 
has  a  charming  sylvan  view  to  the  north,  and  the  two  win- 
dows on  the  river  front  another  looking  east. 

The  two  remaining  doors  of  the  hall  lead,  on  one  side 
to  the  staircase  hall,  and  on  the  other  into  the  family  bed- 
room. The  latter  has  three  closets,  a  space  for  a  ward- 
robe, and  an  alcove  which  may  be  used  as  a  dressing- 
room  or  a  recess  for  placing  a  bed.  On  the  south  side  of 
the  vestibule  is  the  office,  or  gentlemen's  own  room,  to  be 
neatly  and  appropriately  fitted  up  as  a  business  room,  or 
study  for  the  master  of  the  house.  The  dotted  triangular 
space  at  the  corner  of  this  office,  indicates  a  place  for  an 
iron  safe  built  in  the  wall.  On  the  north  side  of  the  ves- 
tibule is  a  large  closet  for  cloaks,  umbrellas,  etc.  This 
story  is  13  feet  in  the  clear,  and  the  dotted  lines  in  the 
hall  and  principal  rooms  show  the  forms  of  the  ribbed 
ceilings. 

The  second  floor  contains  six  sleeping  apartments  of 
various  sizes,  a  bath  room,  and  a  water-closet ;  and  the 
attic  furnishes  sleeping  accommodations  for  the  servants. 
We  regret  that  we  are  not  able  to  show,  by  engraved 
plans,  the  ample  and  convenient  arrangements  of  this  and 
the  basement  story. 

The  whole  internal  arrangement  of  this  villa,  by  Mr. 
Davis,  is,  we  think,  highly  remarkable  for  its  elegance,  its 
compactness,  and  the  abundance  and  convenience  of  its  ac- 


374 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


commodations.  While  any  portion  of  the  house  may  by 
itself  be  used  by  the  family  at  any  time,  the  effect  of 
the  entire  first  floor,  when  thrown  open  at  once,  would 
be  more  striking  than  that  of  many  mansions  we  have 
seen  of  four  times  the  size,  where  the  rooms,  having  no 
connexion,  and  being  badly  arranged,  produced  little  effect 
as  a  whole. 

Estimate.  The  estimated  cost  of  this  villa  varies  from 
$12,000  to  $15,000,  according  to  the  material  adopted, 
stone  or  bricks,  (either,)  and  the  degree  of  finish  employed 
in  the  interior. 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  GROUNDS* 

The  situation  selected  for  this  residence  is  a  hill  of  con- 
siderable extent,  commanding  an  extensive  view  of  the 
Hudson,  which  is  densely  wooded  with  a  natural  growth 
of  forest  trees.  The  preference  was  given  to  this  site,  as 
its  natural  picturesqueness  and  intricacy  seemed  to  be  ad- 
mirably in  keeping  with  the  style  of  the  building  in  view  ; 
and  also,  as  it  is  found  much  easier  to  produce,  in  a  short 
time,  a  satisfactor}''  effect,  by  thinning  out  and  improving 
a  suitable  natural  wood,  than  by  planting  and  raising  up 
new  growths  of  sylvan  accessories,  where  none  are  al- 
ready existing. 

The  grounds  are  about  120  acres  in  extent.  In  the 
accompanying  plan,  Fig.  79,  a  considerable  portion  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  site  for  the  house  is  shown.  There  is 
a  great  variety  of  surface  caused  by  the  undulations  of  the 
ground,  upon  this  area,  which  will  eventually,  if  proper 
advantage  is  taken  of  this  circumstance,  cause  the  demesne 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES.  175 


• 


176 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


to  appear  of  large  extent.  In  laying  out  the  grounds,  the 
course  of  the  entrance  road  6,  was  determined  by  a  natu- 
ral depression,  which  afforded  a  much  more  easy  and  suita- 
ble approach,  than  could  be  found  in  any  other  direction. 
The  road  itself  is  not  made  in  the  bottom  of  the  little  dell, 
as  this  would  render  it  wet,  and  even  liable  to  be  washed 
away  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  but  upon  one  side  of 
the  sloping  bank,  at  a  suflicient  height  above  to  insure  the 
dryness  and  firmness  of  the  road,  at  all  seasons.  At  c, 
the  road  is  carried  across  a  small  stream,  which  affords 
an  opportunity  of  introducing  a  pretty  rustic  bridge,  con- 
structed of  the  roots  and  stems  of  the  trees  felled  in  open- 
ing the  road.  An  object  of  this  kind,  strictly  useful  in  its 
character,  when,  as  in  this  case,  it  can  be  legitimately 
introduced,  always  gives  interest  to  a  walk  or  road 
through  the  grounds,  although  it  should  never  be  made 
when  there  is  not  some  obvious  purpose  beyond  that  of 
mere  ornament. 

There  will  be,  eventually,  an  opportunity  for  creating 
a  great  variety  in  these  grounds,  but  as  an  idea  of  this 
kind  of  situation  can  scarcely,  like  a  flat  surface,  be  con- 
veyed by  a  mere  plan,  we  shall  only  designate  a  few  of 
the  leading  points  of  interest.  There  is  an  open  lawn  J,  at 
the  south  side  of  the  house,  to  be  enlivened  by  groups  of 
flowering  shrubs  and  plants,  that  will  contrast  agreeably 
with  the  dark  verdure  of  the  thicker  groups  of  foliage  on 
the  other  sides.  At  c,  is  a  rustic  pavilion  or  summer-house, 
Fig.  SO,  on  a  knoll  slightly  elevated  above  the  surrounding 
,#  surface.  The  stable  and  other  out-buildings,  are  located 
at  the  kitchen  garden  at  A,  and  the  orchard  at  i.  The 
long  and  intricate  walk  jy  which  may  be  led,  at  pleasure,  a 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


177 


long  distance  beneath  the  shady,  embowering  branches 
of  tall  beeches,  stately  maples,  and  "  melancholy  pines," 
now  threading  little  dells  filled  with  mosses  and  ferns,  and 
dark  with  forest  verdure,  and  again  emerging  into  sunny 

glades,  opened  among  the  fo- 
rest trees  here  and  there,  will 
be  one  of  the  most  agreeable 
features  of  the  place.  The 
greatest  charm  of  this  resi- 
dence, when  it  is  completed, 
will  be  the  novelty  and  con- 
trast experienced  in  coming 
directly  from  the  highly  arti- 
[Fig.  80.]  facial  and  populous  city,  only 

a  couple  of  miles  distant,  to  its  quiet,  secluded  shades,  full 
of  wildness,  only  sufficiently  subdued  by  art  to  heighten 
its  natural  beauty. 

The  principal  diflBculty  in  skillfully  treating  a  residence 
like  this,  to  be  formed  on  an  entirely  new  surface,  covered 
with  wood,  lies  in  thinning  out  and  opening  the  wood 
judiciously — in  seizing  on  the  finer  portions  to  be  left,  and 
selecting  such  as  may,  with  the  greatest  advantage,  be 
cleared  away.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  as  we  have 
previously  urged,  that  few  si?iglc  trees  can  be  left,  but  that 
the  thinning  must  be  done  by  opening  glades  boldly,  Jc,  and 
leaving  the  trees  in  groups,  masses,  thickets  and  groves. 
Trimming  up  the  trees,  beyond  what  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary in  removing  dead  branches,  should  never  be  attemp-* 
ted,  but  unsightly  underwood  should  be  removed,  except 
in  distant  parts,  where  it  is  desired  to  retain  the  wild  and 
picturesque  character  of  the  place  for  the  sake  of  contrast- 

22 


178 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


ing  with  the  more  dressed  air  immediately  around  the 
house.  In  short,  the  natural  expression  of  a  place  like  this 
must  be  thoroughly  studied,  before  making  any  improve- 
ments ;  as  otherwise,  the  latter  will,  instead  of  heightening 
and  developing  its  original  charm,  only  weaken  and  render 
it  incongruous  and  unsatisfactory. 


ADDENDA. 


Cements  for  the  exterior  of  buildings, — In  the  description  of 
the  preceding  designs,  we  have  frequently  recommended 
brick  and  cement,  as  a  mode  of  construction  highly  suit- 
able for  cottages.  Houses  built  in  this  manner  will  be 
found  much  dryer  and  warmer  in  winter,  and  much  cooler 
in  summer,  than  those  built  of  wood ;  and  the  greater 
solidity  and  durability  of  such  dwellings,  as  well  as  their 
superior  architectural  expression,  will  always  render  them 
preferable  to  dwellings  built  of  so  perishable  a  material  as 
timber. 

In  speaking  of  brick  and  cement,  however,  we  must 
not  be  understood  as  referring  to  the  wretched  mode  of 
plastering  exterior  walls  which  generally  passes  current 
under  this  name,  examples  of  which  may  at  once  occur  to 
some  of  our  readers,  to  prejudice  them  against  the  em- 
ployment of  this  mode  of  construction.  Indeed,  there  is  no 
subject  hitherto  so  little  understood  by  the  majority  of 
our  practical  men,  as  that  of  cements  suitable  for  resisting 
the  attacks  of  the  weather  on  exterior  walls.  Accordingly 
we  not  unfrequently  see  whole  surfaces  of  this  so-called 
cement,  crumbling  and  falling  from  the  walls,  and  the 
proprietor,*  lamenting  the  sad  appearance  of  the  exterior  of 
his  dwelling,  protests  loudly  against  all  cements. 

The  fact,  however,  that  there  are,  both  in  this  country 


I 

ISO  COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


and  abroad,  numerous  examples  of  cements  resisting  the 
attacks  of  the  weather  for  a  great  length  of  time,  and  be- 
coming almost  incorporated  with  the  solid  wall,  should 
teach  our  builders  that  the  error  lies  in  their  ignorance  of 
its  nature,  and  the  proper  mode  of  mixing  and  laying  it  on. 

The  frequent  failures  in  exterior  cements  arise,  1st, 
From  the  use  of  sand  composed  of  rounded,  worn  particles, 
mixed  with  earthly  matter  ;  ^dly,  From  the  employment 
of  hydraulic  cements  of  inferior  or  unsuitable  quality;* 
3dly,  From  the  use  of  poor  lime;  and  4thly,  From  im- 
perfect mixture  and  application  of  the  materials. 

If  in  building  of  brick  and  cement,  the  following  parti- 
culars are  strictly  observed,  we  can  confidently  insure 
satisfactory  results.  The  walls  should  be  laid  of  the  best 
hard  brick,  the  roughness  or  exterior  unevenness  of  which 
is  an  advantage.  In  laying  the  brick-work,  the  outer  sur- 
face of  the  walls  should  not  he  pomtedf  hut  the  mortar  only 
roughly  struck  off"  with  the  trowel ;  indeed,  the  preferable 
mode  is  to  spread  the  mortar  in  such  a  manner  that  it  may 
not  come  quite  to  the  outer  edge  of  the  brick  work  in  all 
parts,  but  leave  little  recesses  or  slight  cavities,  which 
being  filled  up  by  the  cement,  will  afford  a  more  perfect 
hold  and  lodgment  for  the  exterior  coating. 

Immediately  before  putting  on  the  cement,  the  wall  to 
which  it  is  to  be  applied  must  be  well  scrubbed  with  a 
stout  and  coarse  broom,  and  an  abundance  of  water,  in 

*  Many  of  the  hydraulic  limes,  or  ccmentf,  of  this  stale  are  totally  unfit  for  exterior 
work,  as  they  contain  a  salt  (muriate  of  soda)  which,  on  the  absorption  of  water, 
crystallizes  upon  the  brick  walls,  and  thus  forces  off  the  cement.  This  is  the  se- 
cret of  nine -tenths  of  the  failures  in  cementing  houses  in  this  and  other  sections  of 
the  country.   The  hydraulic  lime  that  we  can  best  recommend,  is  that  of  Berlin,  Ct. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


181 


order  both  to  get  rid  of  all  loose  sand,  mortar,  or  other 
matter  adhering  to  the  face  of  the  wall,  and  partially  to 
saturate  the  surface  bricks  with  moisture,  in  order  that  the 
cement  may  set  more  equally  and  gradually. 

In  making  the  cement,  choose  a  hydraulic  lime  that  has 
been  thoroughly  tested,  and  is  known  to  be  well  adapted  to 
resist  the  weather,  in  the  air  as  well  ias  under  water,  and  let 
it  be  perfectly  fresh,  as  it  will  be  nearly  worthless  if  it  has 
been  long  prepared,  unless  it  has  been  kept  in  entirely 
air-tight  vessels.  The  very  best  and  purest  lime  should 
also  be  selected, — of  the  greatest  tenacity  in  mortar,  and 
such  as  will  slacken  equally  throughout.  Especial  pains 
should  also  be  taken  to  procure  sharp,  angular  sand,  which, 
if  not  perfectly  clean,  must  be  freed  from  any  admixture 
of  earthly  particles,  by  repeated  washings.  Let  the  lime  be 
thoroughly  slaked,  and  a  good  mortar  be  made  in  suffi- 
cient quanity  for  the  whole  of  the  work,  of  the  lime  and 
sand.  When  the  masons  are  ready  for  plastering,  open 
one  of  the  casks  of  cement,  and  mix  the  latter  in  equal 
proportions  with  the  mortar,  making  a  hod  of  the  mixture 
at  a  time,  as  it  would  otherwise  partially  set  before  it  could 
be  used.  Only  one  coat  of  cement  should  ever  be  put  on, 
as  it  will  then  form  one  homogenous  mass  with  the  wall. 
Or  rather,  two  layers  may  be  applied,  directly  one  after 
the  other,  which  will  at  once  form  one.  The  coat  of  lime- 
putty  frequently  applied  to  stuccos  to  give  "an  elegant 
finish,"  soon  crumbles  off,  and  hastens  the  decay  of  the 
surface  underneath.  In  finishing  the  surface  float  it 
off  as  smoothly  as  possible,  and  mark  it  off  in  courses  to 
resemble  stone,  coloring  it  while  the  cement  is  yet  only 


r 


182 


COTTAGE  RESlt)ENCES. 


partially  dry,  so  that  the  coloring  matter  may  set  with  the 
cement.* 

In  mixing  the  coloring  material,  choose  some  of  the 
ochres,  or  earthly  colors,  for  a  base,  rendering  it  liquid  by 
the  use  of  milk^  and  varying  the  tint  by  adding  other  col- 
ors, until  the  desired  tint  be  obtained.  In  order  to  protect 
the  cement  against  moisture,  it  is  the  practice  of  the  most 
successful  plasterers,  to  incorporate  with  the  coloring 
wash,  or  paint,  a  quantity  of  thick  boiled  grease  or  fatty 
matter,  in  the  proportion  of  six  or  eight  quarts  to  a  half 
barrel  of  the  paint.  The  cement  should  be  applied  in  fine 
weather,  free  from  frost,  and  it  is  better  in  all  cases,  that 
buildings  to  be  covered  by  it  should  be  finished  in  time  to 
allow  them  to  become  thoroughly  dry  before  winter.  Two 
months  will  probably  be  sufficient. 

The  decay  of  cemented  surfaces,  arises  most  frequently 
from  the  unsuitable  or  imperfect  construction  of  the  roof  or 
cornice  at  the  eves,  or  barge-board.  For  this  reason, 
buildings  in  the  Italian  style,  with  bold  projecting  roofs, 
generally  retain  the  cement  in  a  much  more  perfect  state 
than  those  with  narrow  and  slender  copings  or  projections; 
but  a  little  care  exercised  in  the  first  construction,  will 
render  a  well  cemented  house  much  more  durable,  and 
one  requiring  far  less  repairs  than  any  house  built  of  wood, 
or  other  perishable  material. 

Building  Contracts,    The  great  disproportion  frequently 

*  Such  is  the  most  successful  practice  here.  Experienced  masons  in  England  use 
no  lime.  They  mix  (in  small  quantities,  as  fast  as  it  can  be  used,)  the  best  cement, 
which  must  always  bs  quite  new,  and  freshly  manufactured,  with  one-third  clean- 
washed  sharp  sand.  This  is  applied  to  the  surface  and  finished-off  in  one  coat  and 
is  very  durable. 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


183 


occurring  between  the  estimate  or  contract,  and  the  final 
cost  of  a  house,  is  a  very  frequent  source  of  disappointment 
and  vexation,  to  persons  who  engage  for  the  first  time  in 
building.  The  cottage  or  villa  is  contracted  to  be  built  by 
the  mechanics,  at  a  fair,  or  even  a  low  price,  which  is  quite 
satisfactory  to  the  proprietor  ;  but  when  the  building  is 
complete,  the  bills  are  often  found  to  exceed  the  con- 
tracting price  by  one  third  or  one  half  the  original  sum. 

This  result  will  always,  on  experience,  be  bound  to  arise 
from  two  causes.  The  first  of  these  is  the  want  of  a  well 
digested  and  thoroughly  satisfactorily  plan,  before  the  con- 
tracts are  made.  A  general  idea  of  the  arrangement,  or  a 
mutual  understanding  to  copy  pretty  nearly  the  house  of 
Mr.  A.,  or  B.,  in  the  neighborhood,  is  very  often  as  definite 
a  shape  as  the  matter  assumes  before  the  house  is  com- 
menced. While  it  is  in  progress,  the  subject  opening  on 
the  mind  of  the  owner,  new  arrangements  or  alterations  in 
the  plan  are  suggested  ;  an  additional  room  here,  a  closet 
or  staircase  there,  would,  it  is  discovered,  add  so  greatly  to 
the  elegance  or  convenience  of  the  house,  that  they  are  of 
course  at  once  introduced.  There  are  not  wanting  me- 
chanics, who  finding  perhaps  that  they  shall  obtain  but  a 
moderate  profit  on  their  original  contracts,  and  being  secure 
of  the  whole  work,  charge  at  a  greatly  increased  price  for 
these  additional  items,  knowing  that  no  other  builder  can 
now  be  brought  into  competition  with  them,  to  reduce  the 
rate  by  a  lower  estimate. 

The  second  source  of  multiplied  expense,  is  the  want  of 
proper  specifications  when  the  building  is  proposed  to  be 
estimated  upon.  The  specifications  of  a  building  to  be 
cantracted  for  at  a  certain  price,  are  supposed  to  embrace 


184 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


every  portion  of  it,  and  every  item  of  the  expense.  Now 
to  draw  up  a  full  and  complete  list  of  specifications  for  a 
house  of  considerable  size,  requires  a  very  accurate  know- 
ledge of  every  thing  relating  to  build ing-^a  knowledge 
that  neither  the  generality  of  proprietors,  nor  many  arti- 
sans among  us  will  generally  be  found  to  possess  thorough- 
ly. Usually,  these  specifications  for  a  country  house  are 
drawn  up  at  the  suggestion  of  the  proprietor,  by  one  of  the 
master  workmen,  and  include  all  the  particulars  that  oc- 
cur to  him  or  his  employer.  But  in  carrying  out  these 
specifications,  it  is  found  that  so  large  a  number  of  items 
have  been  overlooked,  that  the  hill  of  extras,  at  the  close  of 
the  work,  amounts  to  20  or  30  per  cent,  on  the  whole  esti- 
mate. 

To  obviate  these  evils  it  is  evident  that  it  is  highly  ne- 
cessary to  have  perfectly  satisfactory  plans,  showing  every 
portion  of  the  house,  necessary  to  a  perfect  understanding 
of  all  its  parts,  before  it  is  commenced  or  contracted  for> 
in  order  that  no  material  alteration  may  he  made  while  it  is  in 
progress  ;  and  also  to  procure  from  some  experienced  and 
competent  architect,  or  master-builder,  very  camplete  and 
full  specifications  for  the  whole  work. 

We  have  in  these  remarks  supposed  the  contract  mode 
of  building,  because  experience  has  led  us  to  believe  that 
in  most  parts  of  the  country  the  work  may  be.  done  in  this 
way  in  an  equally  excellent  manner,  and  at  a  much  lower 
cost  than  by  the  days-work  system.  This  is  owing  partly 
to  the  fact,  that  a  great  deal  more  judgment  and  proper 
economy  will  always  be  exercised  in  the  purchase  of  ma- 
terials, etc.,  by  a  master-builder  for  himself,  than  for  the 
proprietor  ;  and  partly,  also,  that  in  all  buildings  there  is  a 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


185 


great  deal  of  labor  of  secondary  importance,  which  may 
be  performed  at  a  cheap  rate  to  the  master-builder  by  his 
apprentices,  and  which  would  otherwise  be  paid  for  at  the 
journeyman's  rate  in  the  days-work  system.  At  the  same 
time  the  owner,  or  superintendent  of  the  work,  retains  the 
power  to  inspect  and  reject  all  workmanship  or  materials 
not  of  a  proper  and  specified  quality. 

The  most  economical  mode  of  building  in  the  United 
States  will  therefore  be  found  to  be  that  of  employing  only 
the  best  master  workman,  building  by  contract,  and  un- 
dertaking the  work  only  when  provided  with  complete 
plans  and  specifications. 

Emjjloyment  of  architects  or  jprofessional  men. — The  most 
mortifying  feature,  to  a  person  of  cultivated  taste,  in  archi- 
tecture of  our  country-houses  built  within  the  last  ten 
years,  is  the  frequent  violation  of  correct  proportions,  of 
unity  of  decorations,  and  of  appropriateness  of  style  so 
frequently  seen,  even  in  our  finest  residences.  This  arises 
sometimes  from  the  indulgence  of  the  fancy  or  caprice  of 
the  proprietor,  and  sometimes  from  the  bad  advice,  or 
worse  plans  of  the  country  carpenter  or  mason  in  his  em- 
ploy. Although  such  buildings  please  their  owners  at 
first,  yet  with  the  dawnings  of  a  more  extensive  know- 
ledge, obtained  either  by  the  examination  of  really  admi- 
rable edifices,  or  by  a  greater  familiarity  with  the  subject, 
they  almost  certainly  regret,  when  it  is  too  late,  the  errors 
they  have  so  hastily  committed. 

To  those  who  are  not  thoroughly  informed  and  compe- 
tent themselves,  (a  class  yet  very  small  in  all  countries,) 
we  would  strongly  recommend  the  employment,  in  any 
building  of  importance,  of  the  best  professional  talent. 

23 


186 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


They  may  then  feel  assured  not  only  of  having  a  satisfac- 
tory production,  but  one  which,  being  correctly  designed, 
will  rather  grow,  than  lessen  in  their  admiration,  as  their 
knowledge  or  taste  for  architectural  beauty  increases. 

When  we  have  really  decided  to  build,  the  difference 
between  a  common  form  and  an  excellent  one  may  at 
once  be  secured  in  favor  of  the  former,  by  applying  to  an 
architect  of  talent  and  experience.  The  small  addition 
(from  2  to  5  per  cent.)  which  this  will  make  to  the  whole 
cost  of  the  building,  is  certainly  a  consideration  of  trifling 
consequence,  when  we  reflect  that  in  the  design  lies  the 
whole  individuality  of  the  building,  whether  it  shall  be  full 
of  beauty,  grace,  or  >picturesqueness,  or  abound  in  un- 
couthness,  incongruity  and  foolish  conceits — a  matter  of 
the  more  importance  as  it  is  to  continue  before  our  eyes 
and  become  identified  almost  with  ourselves,  perhaps,  for 
a  life  time  !  Many  persons  wdthin  our  knowledge  have 
been  deterred  from  applying  to  a  professional  man  for  ad- 
vice in  building  a  house,  or  laying  out  their  grounds,  from 
a  mistaken  idea  of  the  enormous  charges  to  which  they 
would  be  subjected.  In  the  hope  of  lessening  this  error 
we  have  applied  to  Mr.  Davis,  of  New-York,  one  of  our 
ablest  architects,  for  a  general  list  of  professional  terms, 
an  extract  from  which  we  shall  here  offer. 
Design  for  a  gate  lodge  or  small  cottage,    -       $50  00 

do.     for  a  church,     -       -       -       -       -    100  00 

do.     for  a  villa  residence  of  moderate 

size,  50  to  100  00 

do.  for  a  villa  of  the  first  class  (esti- 
mated at  S15,000,)  including  a 
yisit  to  the  site,     -       -       -       -    150  OQ 


COTTAGE  RESIDENCES. 


1S7 


"  The  foregoing  are  exclusive  of  working  drawings. 

"  For  five  per  cent,  on  the  estimate  of  the  whole  cost  at 
New-York  prices,  the  architect  furnishes  the  design,  in- 
cluding the  elevations,  sections  and  working  drawings,  a 
complete  list  of  specifications,  procures  an  estimate,  and 
gives  an  occasional  superintendence  while  the  building  is 
in  progress." 

We  do  not  give  this  as  the  uniform  scale  of  prices  for 
professional  services  of  this  kind,  as  no  fixed  standard  is 
agreed  upon  in  this  country,  but  we  believe  the  average 
charges  will  be  found  to  vary  very  little  from  those  here 
stated. 


( 


WILEY  AND  PUTNAM 


HAVE  IN  PRESS, 

I.  A  TREATISE  ON  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING ; 

adapted  to  North  America,  with  a  view  to  tlie  improvement  of  Country  Residen- 
ces. Comprising  historical  notices,  and  general  .principles  of  the  art;  directions 
for  laying  out  grotmds,  and  arranging  plantations ;  description  and  ciiltivation  of 
hardy  trees  ;  decorative  accompaniments  to  the  house  and  grounds ;  formation  of 
pieces  of  artificial  water,  flower-gardens,  etc. ;  with  remarks  on  Rural  Archi- 
tecture. New  edition,  nnth  large  additions  and  improvenmits,  and  many  new 
and  beautiful  illustrations.    By  A.  J.  Downing.    1  vol.  8vo. 

NOTICES  OF  THE  FIRST  EDITION. 

"  This  volume,  the  first  American  treatise  on  this  subject,  will  at  once  take  the  rank  of  the 
standard  work  "'^[Silliman's  Journal.] 

"DownLng's  Landscape  Gardening  is  a  masterly  work  of  its  kind, — more  especially  con- 
sidering that  the  art  is  yet  in  its  infancy  in  America." — [Loudon's  Gardener's  Mag.] 

"Nothing has  been  omitted  that  can  in  the  least  costribute  to  a  full  and  analytical  develop- 
ment of  the  subject ;  and  he  treats  of  all  in  the  most  lucid  order,  and  with  much  perspicuity 
and  grace  of  diction." — [Democratic  Review.] 

"We  dismiss  this  work  with  much  respect  for  the  taste  and  judgment  of  the  author,  and 
with  full  confidence  that  it  will  exert  a  commanding  infiucnce.  They  are  valuable  and  in- 
structive, and  every  man  of  taste,  though  he  may  not  need,  will  do  well  to  possess  it." — [North 
American  Review.] 

II.  THE  FRUITS  AND  FRUIT  TREES  OF  AME- 

KICA  ;  or,  the  culture,  projikgation,  and  management,  in  the  garden  and  orchard, 
of  fruit  trees  generally ;  with  descriptions  of  all  the  finest  varieties  of  fruit,  native 
or  foreign,  cultivated  in  the  gardens  of  this  country.  Illustrated  with  numerous 
engravings  and  outlines  of  fruit.    By  A.  J.  Downing.    1  vol.  12mo.,  (and  alsoSvo.) 

This  will  be  the  most  complete  work  on  the  subject  ever  published,  and  will,  it 
is  hoped,  supply  a  desideratum  long  felt  by  amateurs  and  cultivators. 


VALUABLE  WORKS  RECENTLY  PUBLISHED 


BY 

WILEY  &  PUTNAM. 


GARDENING  FOR  LADIES;  AND  COMPANION  TO 

TH  E  FLOWER-GARDEN.  By  Mrs.  Loudon.  First  American,  from  the  second 
London  edition.  Revised  and  edited  by  A.  J.  Downing.  1  tliick  vol.  12mo.  with 
engravings.    $1  50. 

"  A  truly  excellent  work,  written  with  simplicity  and  clearness.  It  is  decidedly  the  best 
work  on  the  subject,  and  we  strongly  recommend  it  to  all  our  fair  countrywomen,  as  a  work 
they  ought  not  to  be  without."— [iV.  Y.  Courier.] 

THE  THEORY  OF  HORTICULTURE  ;  or  an  attempt 

to  explain  the  principal  operations  of  gardening  upon  physiological  principles.  By 
John  Lindley,  Ph.  D.,  F.R.S.,  ^c,  ^c.   $1  25. 

"The  American  edition  of  this  valuable  work  is,  in  all  respects,  creditable  to  the  editors; 
whose  joint  labors,  it  may  be  remarked,  furnish  in  tlie  present  instance  another  illustration  of 
the  happy  combination  of  scientific  theory  with  practical  experience.  To  the  American  rea- 
der, the  notes  of  the  co-editors,  which  are  both  scientifical  and  practical,  add  much  to  the  value 
and  interest  of  the  work ;  being,  for  the  most  part,  tiic  results  of  successful  experience,  with 
such  additions  and  adaptations  as  the  climate  and  circumstances  of  our  country  render  neces- 
sary " — [American  Journal  of  Science.] 


THE  BOTANICAL  TEXT  BOOK  FOR  COLLEGES, 

SCHOOLS,  AND  PRIVATE  STUDENTS.  Illustrated  with  numerous  engra- 
vings on  wood.    1  thick  vol.  12mo.    $1  50. 

The  work  comprises  not  only  the  outlines  of  Structural  and  Physiological  Botany, 
but  also  a  popular  account  of  tlie  principal  Natural  Orders,  their  geographical  distri- 
bution, properties,  and  uses,  with  an  enumeration  of  those  plants  which  furnifeh  pro- 
ducts employed  in  medicine  and  the  arts. 

"The  most  compendious  and  satisfactory  view  of  the  Vegetable  Kingdom  which  has  yet 
been  offered  in  an  elementary  treatise."  "  Remarkable  for  its  correctness  and  perspicuity." — 
[Silliman^s  Journal.] 

See  also  Loudon,  Hooker,  and  other  English  Botanical  Journals,  etc. 

FLORA  OF  NORTH-AMERICA,  comprising  an  account 

of  all  the  indigenous  and  naturalized  plants  growing  north  of  Mexico.  By  John 
Torrey  and  Asa  Gray.    Vol.  1,  (pp.  771,)  price  $6.    Vol.  2,  parts  1,  2,  3.  $4. 

Tliis  is  the  only  authentic  and  complete  American  Flora.  The  object  of  the  work 
is  to  give  a  scientific  account  of  all  the  indigenous  and  naturalized  plant*!  of  North- 
America  at  present  known.  It  is,  we  believe,  the  most  extensive  local  Flora  that 
has  ever  been  undertaken.  The  latest  Flora  of  this  country,  that  of  Pursh,  was 
published  twenty-eight  years  ago,  at  which  period  extensive  regions,  even  within 
the  Ihiited  States  |)ro[M>r,  has  never  been  visited  by  the  Botanist.  Since  that  time, 
the  number  of  known  |)lant.s  has  vastly  increased ;  and  the  science  itself  has  made 
such  rapid  advancement,  that  this  work  will  |)resent  the  Botany  of  tins  country  in  an 
entirely  new  aspect. 


W.  &  P.  have  recently  publislied,  to  be  had  gratis  on  application, 

PART  I. 

Of  a  Catalogue  of  their  extensive  assortment  of  English,  French  and  American 
Books,  in  the  various  departments  of  Science — comprising  Agriculture,  (including 
Treatises  on  Bees,  Cattle,  Sheep,  Dogs,  Horses,  3Ianures,  Poultry,)  Botany,  Horti- 
culture, Gardening,  Rural  Sport.'^,  (ieology.  Mineralogy,  Chemistry,  Electricity,  Na- 
Hiral  History,  Natural  Philosophy,  the  useful  arts,  Scientific  Miscellanies,  &c.  &c. 
The  whole  with  the  prices  aflTixed. 

PART  II. 

Comprismg  History',  Biography,  Voyages,  Travels,  General  Literature,  Greek  and 
Latin  (^las.>*ics,  Philology,  Law  and  Government,  Works  on  Chess,  Heraldry  and 
Genealogy,  Fine  lUiietrated  Works.    And  a  copious  Index  to  the  whole. 


GETTY  RESEARCH  INSTITUTE 


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